Greece’s Agriculture Ministry says it will pay fishers 5.33 euros a kilo for catching the invasive blunthead pufferfish, known locally as lagocephalus, in a pilot scheme aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.
The program will begin in the southern Aegean Sea and Crete, a limited rollout that has already drawn complaints from fishers in other regions who were left out.
Their exclusion prompted criticism after representatives reportedly walked out of a briefing meeting unhappy with the plan.
Officials said the bounty is part of a broader package intended to ease pressure on the fishing sector and curb the spread of a species that can damage marine life and contaminate catches.
Alongside the catch incentive, the government announced temporary fuel subsidies for professional fishers, offering 0.16 euros per liter for April and May and 0.12 euros in June.
The aid is intended to help offset rising operating costs.
The program will be financed through European funds, with a total budget of up to 1.5 million euros. Regional authorities will oversee the scheme and designate ports where fishers can deliver and weigh their catches.
The ministry said the state will cover related costs, including special freezers for storing the fish and disposal by incineration. It added that further support measures for affected fishers are being prepared.
The pufferfish, which has spread across parts of the eastern Mediterranean, is considered a growing threat to fisheries because it is toxic and has no commercial value, making its removal a priority for coastal authorities.
