New “exotic” fish species are arriving in the Black Sea

News of the capture of a pufferfish on June 27 off the Ukrainian coast quickly spread throughout the Black Sea countries. “This tropical species is not typical of the Black Sea. Its presence raises many questions about changes in the marine ecosystem and the risks to fishermen and the environment,” the online newspaper Off News reported on Thursday, July 3. from Sofia. Asked about the title, Feriha Tserkova of the Institute of Fisheries Resources in Varna, Bulgaria, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, says the species originates from the Red Sea. To reach Sevastopol, the pufferfish made a long journey: via the Suez Canal, it crossed into the Mediterranean before arriving in the waters of the Black Sea by crossing the Bosphorus.

It is a predator that is potentially dangerous to humans. “The pufferfish is very adaptable and can withstand different salinity levels and temperatures. It is a predator that is interested in all kinds of live prey,” she continues. “The most serious danger, however, is linked to the toxin contained in its tissues. This does not break down when cooked, which makes eating this fish extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.”