It's that time of year again: British beachgoers need to watch their tootsies to avoid a painful sting from a menace lurking in the sand: weever fish.
The lesser weever fish (Echiichthys vipera) is one of the few venomous fish found in British coastal waters. It might measure just 15cm – around as long as a pencil – but this tiny terror packs a punch when it stings its victims.
That said, weever fish aren’t out to get us. They bury themselves in the sand waiting for a tasty snack – like small fish or prawns, to pass by. Then, they ambush their prey.
While hidden below the sand, their venomous dorsal spines stick out above the surface. These are purely for self-defence, but if you’re unlucky enough to plant your foot on top of a weever fish spine, you’re going to know about it. The venom causes intense pain.
According to a study by the University of Plymouth, 89% of all weever fish stings happen during peak summer (June, July and August) and around low tide. “Overall, the scientists say, weevers seem to be more active in the shallows of beaches under the same conditions that humans prefer – sunny, calm summer afternoons at low tide,” says the university’s media and communications manager Alan Williams.
There are a few ways you can protect yourself from a potential sting.
“To avoid being stung, you should always wear beach shoes when paddling in sandy waters,” says The Wildlife Trusts. "Always follow the Seashore Code when rockpooling, be careful to leave everything as you found it – replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure not to scrape anything off its rocky home.”
Splashing, kicking up the sand and making noise as you enter the water can also help protect you from an accidental sting. “This alerts the weever fish to your presence and they normally swim out into deeper water away from you,” says Water Safety Ireland.
If you do get stung, it’s going to hurt but it’s “generally nothing to worry about,” according to the RNLI. Weever fish stings might deliver a mega ouchie but they shouldn’t cause any lasting damage, unless you have an allergic reaction.
“The pain is at its most intense for the first two hours when the foot normally goes red and swells up, and then it may feel numb until the following day with irritation and pain that may last for up to two weeks,” says Water Safety Ireland.
“The level of pain varies between people due to each individual’s pain tolerance and also due to the number of spines that punctured the skin,” says the RNLI.
If you think you’ve been stung, try to find a lifeguard who will be able to administer medical treatment. “All RNLI lifeguards are trained to deal with weever fish stings – just another reason to visit a lifeguarded beach this summer,” they add.
To treat the sting, the NHS advises rinsing the area with seawater (fresh water will aggravate the sting), using tweezers to remove any spines, and submerging the area in hot (but not boiling) water for as long as you can. If it’s not possible to soak the area, cover it with a hot flannel. This should help ease the pain.
To prevent infection, you may also need to wash and bandage the wound.
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