The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has issued an urgent public warning following the appearance of the dangerous pufferfish species along the shores of Marshall Beach on Friday, May 22, 2026. In a press release issued on behalf of the Government of Liberia, NaFAA cautioned citizens against buying, handling, selling, or consuming the fish, commonly known as Pufferfish, Blowfish, or BalloonFish, due to its highly toxic nature. According to the fisheries authority, many species of pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin a deadly poison found mainly in the liver, ovaries, intestines, and skin of the fish. Officials warned that the toxin remains dangerous even after the fish is cooked, smoked, or dried.
NaFAA stressed that consumption of the toxic fish could lead to severe health complications, including numbness of the lips and tongue, dizziness, vomiting, paralysis, breathing difficulties, and in extreme cases, death.
The authority further noted that there is currently no known antidote for tetrodotoxin poisoning. The agency is urging fishermen who accidentally catch the species to immediately and carefully return it to the ocean, while fishmongers and residents in coastal communities are being encouraged to report any sightings or catches to the nearest fisheries office.
Pet owners were also advised to keep animals away from dead or stranded pufferfish found along beaches, warning that the fish can remain poisonous even after death.
While some countries such as Japan allow specially trained chefs to prepare certain species of pufferfish under strict regulations, NaFAA emphasized that Liberia currently lacks the necessary safety standards and controls for public consumption of the species. The Government of Liberia reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health, food safety, and marine biodiversity, calling on citizens to cooperate fully with authorities to prevent the dangerous fish from entering local markets or households, the release stated.
