By: Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, May 27, 2027: The Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has discovered an extremely dangerous species of fish—commonly known as the pufferfish, blowfish, or balloonfish—along the shores of Marshall Beach in Margibi County.
The discovery was announced Tuesday by Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah during the Ministry of Information’s weekly press briefing in Monrovia, where he delivered an urgent public advisory on behalf of the government.
According to Minister Piah, the toxin found in this fish remains dangerous even after it is cooked, smoked, or dried. If consumed without proper identification and preparation by internationally certified experts, it can lead to severe health complications, including tingling or numbness of the lips and tongue, dizziness, vomiting, paralysis, breathing difficulties, and, in severe cases, death.
He further explained that the tetrodotoxin poison found in the fish attacks the nervous system, and there is currently no known antidote for poisoning caused by its consumption.
In response to the threat, NaFAA has warned all citizens—especially fishermen, fishmongers, and coastal communities—to avoid buying, selling, handling, or consuming the fish.
“Fishermen, fishmongers, and coastal communities who accidentally catch this species should carefully and immediately return it to the ocean or report it to the nearest NaFAA office or local fisheries authority,” the advisory stated.
Meanwhile, NaFAA noted that although some countries, including Japan, allow specially trained chefs to prepare certain pufferfish species under strict regulations, Liberia currently lacks such preparation standards or safety controls for public consumption.
