Over the past few years, the population of poisonous and invasive pufferfish rapidly increased along the Antalya coasts. Official figures indicated that in five years, 88,747 pufferfish were caught along the coasts of Antalya, according to Haber7.
Amateur fishermen reportedly caught pufferfish when going out by boat or casting from the shore, said Halk TV. The same source noted that these fish, with toxin 1200 times stronger than cyanide and a strong jaw structure, were recognizable predators in the seas. Some individuals tried removing pufferfish from their hooks and discarding them immediately, but not all disposal practices were appropriate or safe. Pufferfish caught by shore anglers were sometimes left on the beaches, and in some instances were found hidden among sand and gravel instead of being destroyed properly, said Sozcu.
Dead specimens also washed up on the shoreline, and these dead pufferfish reaching the coast. People walking near the water, along with those swimming, expressed concerns about the hazards posed by contact with decomposing pufferfish bodies. S
Fishermen also experienced economic setbacks due to damaged gear when pufferfish latched onto or bit through lines. Sabah reported that the fish’s strong jaw structure enabled them to cause losses by cutting equipment and feeding aggressively at fishing spots. Local experts said pufferfish could breed with relative ease by feeding on fish during their spawning period, leading to rapid increases in their numbers.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq