A fisherman with just three years of experience has landed one of the ocean's most dangerous catches: a pufferfish, pulled from the Adriatic near Rijeka in Croatia.
The species is famous for a very different reason. In Japan it's known as fugu, a prized delicacy whose liver, skin and ovaries carry tetrodotoxin — a natural poison that, according to Japanese sushi chef Motohiko Mochizuki speaking to Dnevnik Nova TV, can be up to 1,250 times stronger than cyanide. Only specially trained chefs are licensed to prepare it, and botched preparation can cause poisoning symptoms within roughly ten minutes.
That hasn't stopped it being sought after. Fugu flesh is white, lean and savoury, about 80 calories per 100 grams, and a single serving can cost upwards of €200 in Japan. In Rijeka, the catch has become a local talking point — one market seller told Dnevnik she'd never seen pufferfish in the Adriatic before and had no intention of selling one.
How the fish arrived in Croatian waters remains unclear, but it fits a wider pattern of unusual marine species showing up in the Adriatic in recent years, often linked to warming seas and shipping routes through the Suez Canal.
If you want a look rather than a taste, you're in luck: the fish goes on display behind glass at Rijeka's Natural History Museum from next week.
Why it matters for travellers: Rijeka is Croatia's underrated third city — a handy Adriatic base with ferry links to the islands, a lively fish market and a growing food scene. A bizarre museum exhibit plus a harbourfront stroll makes an easy half-day, especially if you're heading onward to Istria or the Kvarner Gulf islands.
