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Greek Pufferfish Bites Swimmers, Rips Nets, Costs €5K

6/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Greek officials warn that invasive silver-cheeked pufferfish are biting swimmers and tearing nets.
An elderly woman near Varkiza needed stitches after a bite.
An 8-year-old in Turkey lost a finger from a bite.
Fisherman Alexis Charalampakis reports net damage costs exceed €5,000 annually and seeks state subsidies for culling.
The European Commission advises heat-treating the fish at 320 °C to deactivate tetrodotoxin and at 392 °C to destroy it.

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Story summary

Greek officials warn that invasive silver-cheeked pufferfish are biting swimmers and tearing nets.
An elderly woman near Varkiza needed stitches after a bite.
An 8-year-old in Turkey lost a finger from a bite.
Fisherman Alexis Charalampakis reports net damage costs exceed €5,000 annually and seeks state subsidies for culling.
The European Commission advises heat-treating the fish at 320 °C to deactivate tetrodotoxin and at 392 °C to destroy it.