A rare and deadly pufferfish has washed up on a south coast beach, hundreds of miles from its usual warm-water home. The poisonous fish was discovered by a local diver on the sand at Knoll Beach in Studland, Dorset.
Discovery on the beach
Owen Booty, from Freedive Life, found the fish while walking along the shore, initially mistaking it for a plastic bag. A closer look confirmed it was a dead pufferfish. Booty said he had a good idea what it was but sent photographs to Dorset Wildlife Trust and a marine biologist friend for confirmation.
Booty said: “We’re fortunate to have some fantastic marine life right on our doorstep. But despite all the time I’ve spent diving locally, I certainly wasn’t expecting to find a pufferfish washed up on the beach.”
Likely cause and expert response
It is thought the pufferfish was blown ashore after much of the UK was battered by Storms Austen and Boelo last week.
A spokesperson for Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “Usually found in open water in the warmer parts of the Atlantic as well as the Indian and Pacific oceans, these fish are a rare sight in the UK, but they do turn up occasionally.” The trust advised the public not to handle any pufferfish they come across and to report any finds to the charity.
Why pufferfish are dangerous
Pufferfish get their name from a defence mechanism that causes them to inflate to the size of a balloon when they sense danger, making it difficult for larger predators to swallow them. They are considered dangerous to humans and potentially deadly if their hidden sharp spines pierce the skin, which can release lethal toxins into the bloodstream.
Some cultures, primarily in East Asia, eat pufferfish as a luxury – in Japan, it is known as fugu – but humans can also be poisoned by ingesting the meat if the deadly toxins are not removed during preparation.
