Warning about the poisonous pufferfish sold as 'mezgit' in Antalya.

In Antalya, the sale of fish fillets labeled as 'ready-to-cook, boneless whiting' at a price of 250-300 lira per kilogram has brought to mind allegations from four years ago. It was warned that the price of whiting is between 600-750 lira, and this fish sold at half the price could potentially be the poisonous pufferfish.

IT HARMS MARINE LIFE

The pufferfish, which has come from the Red Sea and is a nightmare for fishermen in the Mediterranean Gulf, is causing harm to fishermen and other fish species. Due to its rapidly increasing population, pufferfish attack almost everything moving in the sea, including local species and their own subspecies, even breaking cans. Efforts are ongoing to make the fish economically viable. However, due to its poisonous nature and the low incentive for fishing, the population of pufferfish remains uncontrolled as fishermen show little interest.

While studies regarding the pufferfish population continue, it was claimed that some fishermen sold pufferfish as whiting after filleting it four years ago.

"THE FISH SOLD FOR 300 LIRA MAY BE PUFFERFISH"

Ahmet Coşkun, who has been fishing in Antalya for nearly 30 years, stated that he has heard of people selling pufferfish as 'whiting'. Coşkun noted that it is even illegal to display pufferfish at the market, saying, "The price of whiting ranges from 600-750 lira. The fish sold for 250-300 lira may be pufferfish. It is best for our citizens to go and see the fish at the market themselves," he said.

"I DON'T BUY FILLET FISH"

Mustafa Karaçöl, who buys fish, said that they always buy whiting and since he heard that pufferfish is sold as whiting, he has been selecting and buying fish at the market. Karaçöl stated, "I come here to look at the fish. I see it with my own eyes and choose. I definitely do not buy fish that has been filleted. While whiting is 700-750 lira, they sell for 300 lira," he said.

"DON'T EAT THE MEAT OF FISH YOU DON'T KNOW"

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gökoğlu from the Faculty of Fisheries at Akdeniz University stated that pufferfish is highly poisonous and contains enough toxin to kill a person if consumed. Prof. Dr. Gökoğlu said, "This kind of fraud has been happening for a long time. It contains toxins in its tissues. Every person has a tolerance for poison. Once that is exceeded, it surpasses the poison limit. Citizens need to be very careful. They should not eat the meat of fish they do not know. Whiting is also a boneless fish. They are confusing it with fillets," he said.