Pesky pufferfish swimming their way through the Mediterranean Sea borders

Form 3 students. Foley’s school. Limassol (Cyprus)                                                                                          

What harm do pufferfish do?

Pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, which is a lethal substance for humans and is 1200 times more harmful than cyanide. There is enough toxin in 1 pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans making it unsafe for us to swim in waters in which they are present, lowering the amount of tourism in that area. 

Damage to fishing equipment.

Did you know that this tremendously toxic type of fish damage £5000 worth of fishing equipment every fisherman annually? Fishermen already don’t make a large sum of money alone but have to cover the cost of the damages these unwelcome balloon-fish cause.

Why shouldn’t they be in the Mediterranean Sea?

When the Suez Canal opened 150 years ago, it made life easier for travellers and traders, but it also opened a channel for the mass migration of invasive species like the pufferfish. The pufferfish originates from the Red Sea and is on of the most harmful invasive species present in the Mediterranean. In addition, the pufferfish doesn’t have any commercial value and does not bring good to the society in any way and also to marine life because it is a predator for some fish and poisonous for others making those fish inedible and useless.        

How can we use pufferfish to our better?

Research and experiments have shown that when pufferfish is heated at an extremely high temperature of 160 degrees Celsius the poison levels deactivate making it safe for human consumption, while at 200 degrees Celsius it disappears making a marvellous, mouth-watering and magnificent meal with a quite expensive price tag.