The Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food is expected to launch an official call for expressions of interest aimed at financially supporting fishermen in curbing the population of the invasive pufferfish (locally known as lagokephalos). The pilot initiative will initially target the Regions of the South Aegean and Crete, offering fishermen a maximum bounty of €5.33 per kilogram ($6.08) for harvesting the toxic species.
Alongside the environmental bounty, the government is introducing a retroactive marine fuel subsidy for April and May, set at €0.16 per liter. For June, the subsidy will adjust to €0.12 per liter, with officials currently weighing a potential extension.
A draft bill authorizing this quarterly fuel relief is scheduled for immediate submission to parliament. The program will be deployed through the local governments of the South Aegean and Crete, which will be tasked with designating specific ports where the toxic catch will be delivered, weighed, and verified for payout.
Funded entirely by European resources, the total budget for the program is projected to reach up to €1.5 million. Because this invasive pufferfish species is highly toxic, the Ministry will directly cover all necessary operational overheads—including specialized refrigeration units and secure transport to incineration sites—while the financial management of the funds will be handled by the two regional authorities.
Plans are also underway to expand the eradication program to other Greek regions, contingent on securing additional capital. Next week, officials from the Ministry of Rural Development will meet with counterparts from the Ministry of Environment to explore alternative funding avenues for the ongoing ecological “hunt.”
Furthermore, the Ministry announced plans to compensate fishermen impacted by fishing restrictions within marine protected parks, a project developed in tandem with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though finer details are yet to be disclosed. Under the updated Common Fisheries Policy, provisions will also include funding for vessel modernization and the lifting of restrictions on engine financing.
Following a high-level briefing with fishing industry representatives, Minister of Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schinas acknowledged the steep headwinds facing local maritime communities.
“In recent years, Greek fisheries have been pushed to a difficult precipice,” Schinas stated. “Our fleets have been effectively grounded by prohibitive fuel costs, while our marine ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, illegal poaching, unfair practices in the Aegean, and invasive pufferfish, which now pose a tangible danger to our seas.” The Minister concluded by reiterating his commitment to strengthening state intervention for the benefit of Greek fishermen.
Related: A Toxic Pufferfish Is Invading Greece: What Swimmers Need to Know
