Holidaymakers travelling to the Mediterranean this summer have been warned about the spread of the silver-cheeked pufferfish, a toxic species that has migrated into the sea through the Suez Canal. The fish carries a potent neurotoxin and has an exceptionally powerful bite, and its rapid expansion across popular tourist coastlines has prompted growing concern among officials, swimmers and fishermen.

The species, also known as the silver-cheeked toadfish, has been spotted off Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey and as far as Israel. It contains tetrodotoxin, which can cause heart and lung failure and makes it unsafe to eat, and its teeth are strong enough to sever a finger. First recorded in the eastern Mediterranean in 2003 and in Greek waters in 2005, its population and range have surged in recent years, a spread scientists attribute to warmer waters and rising salinity linked to climate change. Fishermen report damaged nets and depleted catches, while reports of attacks on humans are said to be becoming more common.