26/05/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/18W9FET1xe/?mibextid=wwXIfr
BEWARE WEEVER FISH SEASON IS HERE!
The heatwave over half term week may attract unwelcome little visitors to the beaches in the Wembury area. Lesser Weever Fish (Echiichthys vipera) are very common on sandy beaches in the summer months and difficult to spot buried in the sand with only their head and back uncovered. I have seen them at Wembury myself. They can grow up to 20 cm (8 inches). The spines of the first dorsal fin and gill covers release a poison that gives an extremely painful sting to bathers treading on the buried fish.
Here's what to do if you get stung with advice from the NHS:
DO: -
Do wear shoes or wetsuit boots so you don’t get stung in the first place. This is particularly important for children with their small feet and sensitive skin.
Do rinse the affected area with seawater (not fresh water).
Do remove any spines from the skin using tweezers or the edge of a bank card.
Do soak the area in very warm water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 30 minutes – use hot flannels or towels if you cannot soak it.
DO NOT
Do not p*e on the sting.
Do not apply ice or a cold pack.
Do not touch any spines with your bare hands.
Do not cover or close the wound.
FOR FURTHER ADVICE ON STINGS BY SEA CREATURES VISIT:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/jellyfish-and-other-sea-creature-stings/
DID YOU KNOW?
The name "weever" is derived from the Old French word "wirve," meaning serpent or dragon, and reflects the venomous nature of the fish.
Lesser Weever (Echiichthys vipera) stings are not usually severe enough to require medical treatment. However, there is another Weever in British waters, the Greater Weever (Trachinus draco), not found in shallow water and only likely to be encountered by deep sea fishermen and divers. These grow to over 25 cm (10 inches). The Greater Weever is very poisonous and a sting from one requires hospital treatment.
Don't worry, the photograph of so many Lesser Weever Fish together was taken at Plymouth Marine Aquarium, not in the Wembury Marine Conservation Area.
(25 May 2026, KW)
Wembury Marine Centre
Wembury Environment Group