First record of immature silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) on Eastern Tunisian coasts (Central Mediterranean)

The silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin, 1789) has been present in Tunisian waters for around ten years. It was recorded in Mahdia in 2012. The species, although caught accidentally and in low abundance, seems to generate negative interactions with small-scale fishing gear, mainly nets and lines, giving rise to reasonable concerns and complaints. This note reports the identification of a nursery area of L. sceleratus along the Tunisian coasts.