Measures are being taken to address the threat posed by pufferfish, those quirky yet troublesome sea creatures. Despite their adorable puffed-up appearance, these sneaky fish pack a venomous punch, posing risks to human health. More importantly, their rapid reproduction rate exacerbates the harm they cause to the biological diversity of Turkey's seas.

Recognizing the significant damage inflicted by these invasive creatures on the fishing industry and the marine life, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (“Ministry”) has introduced a new communique to tackle the pufferfish problem under which fishermen are incentivized to hunt for pufferfish. With rewards for every tail of pufferfish, this initiative aims to reduce the pufferfish population and promote ecological sustainability of fishing.

Moreover, Ministry is also collaborating with research and development centers to find ways to integrate pufferfish into the economy through processing and evaluation across various industrial sectors.