Almost 145 tonnes of silver-cheeked toadfish have been caught from Cypriot waters over the past two years as part of a scheme to tackle the invasive and aggressive species.
Nicoleta Varnava, an official from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, told the Cyprus News Agency that the current scheme runs until December 2029 and has a budget of €1.304 million.
Seventy per cent of the funding comes from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
€685,000 paid to fishermen
Of the total funding available, €685,000 has so far been paid to fishermen for the 145 tonnes of silver-cheeked toadfish delivered since June 2024.
Varnava explained that the payments are made to the 11 heads of groups and associations of professional fishermen participating in the scheme. They then distribute the money among fishermen according to the weight of the fish they have caught.
The silver-cheeked toadfish handed over by fishermen are subsequently sent to an authorised company for incineration.
Species poses major problems for fishermen
Similar schemes to tackle the growing silver-cheeked toadfish population in Cypriot waters have been in place since 2012. The invasive species has been present in the area for at least two decades.
According to the Department of Fisheries, no attacks on people by silver-cheeked toadfish have been recorded in Cyprus. However, their growing population has had a significant impact on professional fishermen, as the fish damage both fishing gear and catches.
The species can pose a risk to people only if it is consumed.
Cyprus shares its experience with Greece
The measures introduced by the Department of Fisheries mainly aim to reduce the silver-cheeked toadfish population. Authorities are also collecting data, in cooperation with professional fishermen, to monitor the species and assess its population.
Varnava said Greece recently asked Cyprus for information about the methodology it uses to tackle the spread of the species, following its appearance in Greek waters.
Asked whether another species, such as sea turtles, could act as a natural predator and help reduce silver-cheeked toadfish numbers, she said authorities were also waiting to determine whether any species could play such a role.
Other invasive species monitored
The Department of Fisheries is also monitoring other invasive species that have appeared in Cypriot waters in recent years.
These species are not considered as aggressive as silver-cheeked toadfish. One example is lionfish, which is edible once its spines have been removed.
The Department of Fisheries is therefore running a campaign to promote lionfish as a commercially marketable species.
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