More support to cull invasive venomous fish

Fishermen are to be offered increased support to cull the population of the venomous silver-cheeked toadfish, a type of pufferfish from the Indo-Pacific region, the fisheries department announced this week.

The department in a bid to solve the problem of the species’ proliferation which has been ongoing in the island’s waters for the past ten years, said it would pay fishermen €4.47 per kilo to catch the toxic fish.

As the catch and consumption of the pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) is prohibited by almost all countries bordering the Mediterranean, the invasive species has expanded through the Suez canal into the entire Mediterranean and Black sea. 

“The fish destroys both nets and catch,” said head of the fishermen’s professional association, Panicos Peratikos.

In addition to damage caused by the fish to fishing nets, its neurotoxins have severe impacts on marine biodiversity.

Incidents of contact with bathers resulting in adverse effects have also been recorded, resulting in fears that unchecked proliferation could harm tourism in the long run.

In the past fishermen had been paid €3/kilo to cull the fish, which was unprofitable, Peratikos said, but they nonetheless took part in the programme to safeguard their livelihood.

However, the fish’s ever-increasing population – spurred by the fact that the species appears to have no natural predator in the Eastern Mediterranean, has raised the alarm and a decision was taken for more drastic measures.

“We used to devote two to three months to hunting the fish during its spawning season and the costs of fuel were very high,” Peratikos said, adding that professional fishermen had been requesting increased compensation for their culling efforts for the past four years.

Yiannos Kyriakou, director of the fisheries department said the fish had been noticed in the Mediterranean for around 30 years, however, the effects of its presence were only recorded in the last 15. Fish stocks have been greatly affected and the fish essentially “competes with fishermen” he said.

He emphasised that the fish was deadly if consumed without expert care and this should under no circumstance be attempted.

The pufferfish contains tetrodotoxin (TTX) produced by bacteria in its gastrointestinal tract, which also is found in its gonads, liver, muscle, and skin, and is one of the most poisonous toxins known.

Symptoms include nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain and progressive muscle paralysis, leading to eventual death.

Participation in culling efforts is open only to teams of professional fishermen as it is also intended to protect that profession, Kyriakou added. He said that interest from fishermen was high since the programme’s announcement in June, and he expected all available slots to be filled shortly.

The total available funds approach €500,000, which is unlikely to cover the needs of the season, given the enormous quantities of fish caught.

The whole process is fully controlled by the fisheries department and catches are meticulously recorded and sent to be destroyed at a central facility in Kofinou.

Last month 24 tonnes of the pufferfish were sent to this facility from Famagusta alone, the district spokesman for the endeavour said. To date this year 38 tonnes have been culled, Kyriacou said.

As a top predator in the marine food chain, the pufferfish has been known to control some invasive species such as lionfish, Red Sea goatfish, rabbitfish and long spine sea urchins, as well as its own population density through cannibalism – prompting some scientists to suggest that finding commercial markets for it could be a solution.

The department had mulled over the possibility of exporting the fish to Japan, Kyriakou said, where chefs, who are highly specialised in removing its toxins, prepare it in strictly controlled restaurants as “fugu” a traditional delicacy. However, this proved unfeasible due to distance and tight regulations, the fisheries director added.

Until a natural predator is found, sponsored culling has been deemed the best mitigation method.