Bio-diversity

The pufferfish, Lagocephalus sceleratus, is one of the Lessepsian species which has invaded the Eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea. It was first recorded in Turkey in 2003 and has colonized new territories of the Eastern Mediterranean at a very rapid rate. Today, it is regarded to be among the worst invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea with a significant impact on the surrounding ecosystem and on the fisheries sector. It attacks fishes captured in the nets and lines and seriously damages fishing gears and catch. In UN FAO East Med technical report it was ranked among the 10 most dominant species in terms of biomass in Mediterranean. L. sceleratus is considered to be a serious hazard to consumers since it contains a strong marine toxin called tetrodotoxin (TTX), which can be lethal to humans. TTX is known to be one of the strongest marine toxins and being 1200 times more toxic than cyanide. The species is not onsumed in any part of the world and landing is strictly prohibited in Turkey by law. Since TTX is believed to be a production of certain marine bacteria, further research is recommended to investigate the concentrations of TTX in the different organs and tissues of L. sceleratus in Mediterranean. The first aim of the project is to document the figures of economical impact of pufferfish on fisheries sector. Then bio-concentration of TTX in the organs and tissues of L. sceleratus from different regions of Turkish Mediterranean cost will be investigated. TTX has a potential as a pharmaceutical agent relieving severe, treatment resistant cancer pain in the majority of the patients. Purification and subsequent use of the toxin in the pharmaceutical industry would create many employment opportunities. This will create a fishery that will yield economic benefits to the fishers and control wild populations through increased fishing pressure. The project also aims developing resilient fishing lines and nets to withstand the biting power of L. sceleratus to minimize economic losses to the fisherman.

Turkey