Dangerous Fish in Cyprus

Hi Grigoris,

I go scuba diving in Cyprus and have never had the pleasure of seeing one of these beauties :)Where do you see them? In fact, I don't see many fish at all, I suspect you go fishing. Do you have any other info for me as to where I can go to see more fishies (the friendly ones, as well as any other dangerous ones!)

i went diving yesterday and as i was getting on the boat i saw two of these fish so i shot one with my speargun. it was trying to get away so i was going to grab it with my hand.but my dad stop me and he told me that it was blow fish and they have razor sharp teeth and that they can bite off my finger and he said they can even break metal wires with their teeth.

you can find these fish in north cyprus like me in sandy places in shallow waters. they can grow more than 30cm they grow up to 20-30kg wich is over 1 metre.

Catch one for a Euro!

Today on 16 Sep 2009 the Cyprus Fishery Department announced the government funded extermination for this specific toxic fish (lagocephalus sceleratus). A Euro will be given for each fish the fishermen bring to the fishery department. From there, the fish will be examined by specialists and then incinerated en masse. The fund amounts in 400 thousand Euro so there is plenty for all! Its about time this measure is taken since this species cause damage in the fishing equipment and the fish trapped in the nets.

So if you ever catch this kind of fish DON'T EAT IT. Sell it!