Lionfish Invasion Threatens Mediterranean Fisheries

In the Mediterranean, the invasive lionfish (λαγοκέφαλος) – which entered via the Suez Canal amid climate change – is causing extensive damage to fishing gear, reducing native fish stocks, and posing a public‑health risk because of its potent tetrodotoxin.

In Crete, scientists highlight that sea turtles may naturally curb the lionfish population, as turtles can tolerate the toxin and have been found with lionfish remnants in their stomachs, though it remains unclear whether they actively hunt the fish.

In Cyprus, fishermen recorded a seasonal catch of 103 tons of lionfish, the highest on record, under a subsidy scheme running from 2024 to 2029. The program paid 4.73 € per kilogram, totalling €487 000 for 150 participants, but fishers report that lionfish damage nets, raise repair costs, and displace commercially valuable species.