Greece has introduced a bounty program that pays fishermen €5.33 ($6.07) per kilogram to catch the silver-cheeked toadfish, a highly toxic invasive species that is spreading through the Mediterranean as rising sea temperatures expand its habitat.
Originally entering the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal from tropical waters, the fish has steadily moved into Greek waters. Its skin and internal organs contain tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin that can cause respiratory failure and cardiac arrest if consumed.
The species has also become a costly problem for fishermen, feeding on fish trapped in nets and damaging expensive equipment. Videos showing the fish biting through soda cans and even solid wood have gone viral online.
According to The Independent, a woman swimming near Varkiza, south of Athens, was bitten by the fish and required hospital treatment and stitches. The Hellenic Red Cross has since issued guidance on how to respond to bites.
Officials have sought to reassure tourists, with 16 medical and tourism organizations in Crete stating there is no immediate risk to beachgoers because the fish is rarely found in shallow resort waters or designated swimming areas.
The bounty program, launched in June 2026 under Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas, follows a similar initiative already operating in Cyprus.