Silver pufferfish expansion triggers Mediterranean alert

The silver pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), an invasive species originally from the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, is rapidly expanding across the Mediterranean due to rising sea temperatures. Having entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal through Lessepsian migration, the species is now moving beyond Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus into Tunisia, Croatia, and the Italian seas.

Authorities and scientists have issued warnings because the species is highly toxic if consumed and possesses powerful bone plates that can cause deep wounds. In Greece, floating barriers have been installed following reports of the fish biting swimmers. Increasing sightings in the Western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea are causing growing concern for both public safety and the local maritime economy.