Revellers visiting UK beaches during the ongoing heatwave have been warned about a venomous fish that delivers an 'excruciating' sting. Weever fish, small creatures with venomous spines, bury themselves half in the sand and inject poison when stepped on. As sea temperatures rise, these fish are increasingly found in UK shallows, according to marine experts.
Expert Warns of Rising Weever Fish Numbers
Matt Slater, a marine conservation officer from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: 'Because of the heatwaves warming the sea, we're seeing a huge number of weever fish around the coast already.' While many gather in the warmer south west seas around Cornwall, they can also be found along the east and west coasts of the UK. Slater noted: 'There are hundreds down at Newquay right now. If I go down with my net in the shallows, it'll be full of weevers after a few minutes.'
How the Sting Occurs
Their official name is Echiichthys vipera, after the viper snake known for potent venom. Though they do not purposefully sting, thousands of beachgoers step on them annually. Found in shallows at low tide, risk exists even without swimming. Slater explained: 'Weever fish have a dorsal fin with four hollow spines that support the fin. When you tread on it, it spikes into the foot. The poison is then pushed out into the foot.' Despite their 'cute' look, the sting makes them feel like 'a big scary monster'.
Prevention and Treatment
A popular method to avoid stings is shuffling feet to scare fish away, but it does not always work. Slater advises: 'The easiest way to prevent a sting is to wear a pair of old shoes or wetsuit boots if you're walking in the shallows. Otherwise, just swim. Don't walk. You're more likely to find weever fish at low tide, rather than high tide. And they usually gather around rocky areas, too.' The main season runs from June to September, and even small fish deliver a nasty sting.
Slater, who lives near Holywell Bay in north Cornwall, regularly sees queues of stung people outside the lifeguard hut. He recommends: 'If you've been stung, you need to put your foot in hot water. The poison is protein-based, so hot water breaks it down.' Pain can subside within 15 minutes. Lifeguards monitor for anaphylaxis, but severe reactions are rare. Slater emphasised: 'Weever fish are important in our marine ecosystem. They hide in the sand waiting to see food and pop up to grab small shrimps and morsels. They don't want to be trodden on, which is why they have these sharp spines.'
