Cyprus allocates almost 600,000 euros to combat pufferfish

A project to prevent the spread of the pufferfish population in the Republic of Cyprus begins today. The project will last for 3 months.

The sponsored aid plan to contain the spread of the pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) population in Cyprus's territorial waters, developed by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, will be implemented starting June 3.

The aim of the plan is to reduce the presence of this dangerous, poisonous fish in Cyprus's coastal areas through the efforts of collective groups of fishermen. The project involves "applying intensive targeted fishing pressure on the species' population by the coastal commercial fleet of Cyprus."

The total budget for the program is 595,000 euros. Of this amount, 70% is covered by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), with the remaining 30% funded by the Republic of Cyprus.

Fishermen who join the program will be compensated proportionally to the total weight of caught and destroyed pufferfish. The compensation will amount to 4.73 euros per kilogram.

Fishermen with a registered license for professional fishing vessels can apply to participate in the program. Applications can be submitted online from Monday, June 3, 2024, until Thursday, October 3, 2024.

For additional information, interested parties can visit the UNDP website.

Previously, scientists from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea assessed the extent of the damage caused by pufferfish to human health. Between 2004 and 2023, 27 people died from consuming the fish, while another 143 gourmets were poisoned but survived.

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