A species of puffer fish with toxic flesh and bone-crushing jaws is expanding its range throughout the Mediterranean, causing local authorities to issue warnings to tourists about the risk of bites.
Warnings and Precautions
Some places are taking precautions to protect swimmers and bathers from the invasive silver-cheeked toadfish, also called harefish. The fish reportedly entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and has spread as sea temperatures have warmed.
The Hellenic Red Cross, Greece’s national Red Cross society, issued a public advisory in June cautioning that the fish’s flesh ‘contains a potent neurotoxin (tetrodotoxin), which makes it extremely dangerous to eat.’ The Red Cross warned that ‘because the distribution of the toxin varies, no part of the fish is considered safe to eat.’
Greek authorities established floating barriers beneath the Gulf of Euboea between the Greek mainland and the island of Evia to safeguard people in the water. Other municipalities along the Gulf of Euboea are also installing or planning to install floating barriers and protective nets to help keep swimmers safe.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
