Procida pufferfish catch triggers health alert

A poisonous pufferfish has been caught off the coast of Procida, raising health concerns regarding the presence of lethal species in the Mediterranean Sea. The fish contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin found in its liver, viscera, and skin that can cause respiratory paralysis and death. Experts warn that cooking does not necessarily eliminate the danger of the toxin.

Professor Pietro Prevete noted that the species is among the most poisonous in the world. The discovery highlights the increasing presence of tropical invasive species in the Mediterranean, a phenomenon attributed to changing environmental conditions and migration through the Suez Canal. Authorities advise fishermen and consumers not to cook, eat, or commercialize pufferfish, and to report any accidental captures to competent agencies.