As the water temperature rises along the Mediterranean coastline in the resort town of Antalya, schools of pufferfish that have come through Egypt have flooded the beaches. Professor Mehmet Gekoglu from Akdeniz University Aquaculture Faculty, known for his underwater diving, this time studied the seabed near the shores of the resort center and issued a conclusion.
The scientist noted that the Mediterranean Sea was indeed populated by schools of pufferfish that arrived in Turkey via Egypt. Their way to the Mediterranean turned out to be very long, the expert explained. Fugu came from the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea in Egypt to the Mediterranean, because the temperature in the latter rose significantly. However, tourists may not be afraid of small creatures and calmly go into the sea, the researcher noted.
Meteorologists have warned that the air temperature in Turkish Antalya in July is approaching +40°С, and the sea water temperature has already risen to +27°С. The warm seawater along the city’s coastline has attracted unusual fish. Hekoglu added that the feeding physiology of fish has also changed.
In this regard, he reported the following: “They constantly chased us during our dives, swam in flocks next to our feet. They are very cute creatures. They have green and blue eyes. They were not afraid of us, so we took them in our hands and stroked their bellies. At this time, they immediately puffed up and took the shape of a ball – this is how they activated the protective mechanisms. However, you should be careful with large fish, as they can damage the skin. Also, they can bite, but they don’t have very strong jaws, so they definitely won’t hurt that way.”
The new inhabitants of the Mediterranean did not console the coastal Turkish fishermen. The professor explained that fish often eat the bait on fishing rods and cut the fishing line.
The beaches of Antalya, Turkey, were flooded by schools of deadly fugu fish that came through Egypt
Reference: Fugu (Torquigener) is a genus of echinoderms living in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Their name is related to their ability to build round structures on the sandy seabed. There are no scales on the body of a fugu, but its skin is covered with barbed needles of various lengths, usually its size can be compared to the size of a human palm. Contains a lethal dose of tetrodotoxin in the internal organs, mainly in the liver and roe, gall bladder and skin. The liver and caviar of this fish are the most poisonous, so they are not eaten, other parts of the body can be eaten only after careful special processing.