Silver-cheeked toadfish concerns are largely based on misinformation and unverified reports, according to environmental organisation iSea, which is urging the public and media to rely on scientific evidence when discussing marine species.
Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (APE-MPE), iSea communications officer Anastasia Charitou said there is no documented evidence of unprovoked attacks by species such as the pufferfish, stressing that recent panic is based on misleading information.
She explained that in reported cases in Kalymnos and Cyprus, interactions occurred only when humans approached or fed the animals in shallow waters.
No evidence of unprovoked attacks
Charitou stressed that there is no scenario in which swimmers would be randomly attacked in the sea, adding that risks are often exaggerated or misinterpreted.
According to the organisation, even cases where bites have occurred cannot be described as attacks, but rather as results of human interference with wild marine life.
The group also highlighted that public behaviour, such as touching or feeding marine animals, is a key factor in such incidents.
Focus shifts to marine ecosystem pressures
iSea warned that public debate should focus on real threats to marine ecosystems, including climate change, pollution, overfishing and biodiversity loss.
The organisation called for a unified national strategy for marine management, backed by scientific evidence and long-term planning.
It added that healthy ecosystems depend on balanced food chains and the recovery of natural predators.
Media urged to avoid sensationalism
The group also urged media outlets and experts to communicate with accuracy and restraint, warning that sensational reporting distorts public understanding of environmental risks.
It criticised the spread of unverified “hotspot” maps and fear-driven narratives about species such as sharks in the Mediterranean.
Shark fears described as exaggerated
iSea referred to decades of exaggerated shark-related fear, including historical newspaper headlines that contributed to public anxiety.
The organisation said that shark and ray populations in the Mediterranean have significantly declined in recent decades, and that real human encounters remain extremely rare.
Social media distorts perception
Researchers note that viral social media content can distort perceptions of marine wildlife, as isolated sightings are amplified far beyond their real frequency.
Scientific studies cited by the organisation show that while encounters are rare, their visibility has increased due to digital platforms, not because of a rise in actual incidents.
Also read: 103 tons of invasive silver-cheeked toadfish removed from Cypriot seas
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