Swimmers are warned of weever fish off the coast
LAST week we were on the lookout for deadly jellyfish floating atop our seas but now Wexford people have a venomous creature lurking on our seabed in the form of the weever fish.
This small fish is usually found in warm shallow water, where it lies beneath the sand with just its venomous dorsal fin showing above the sand. It’s spine delivers a poison when stood on, which causes excruciating pain and often swelling and numbness. The pain is at its most intense for the first two hours and then it may cause irritation and pain for up to two weeks. One danger is that it can cause anaphylactic shock or allergic reaction to those who are vulnerable.
CEO of Irish Water Safety John Leech said that the weever fish is very common off the Wexford coast.
‘ They are very common in Wexford and on any clean beaches where you don’t have mud,’ he explained. ‘Normally people don’t come across them but at this time of the year, you have a lot of people swimming at low tide and the weever fish is found in the shallow waters.’
Mr Leech said that one bad sting has been reported so far this year in Co Derry. August is the most common time for reports of stings but Irish Water Safety puts this down to the fact that a greater number of people are swimming in the sea.
Weever fish are not often seen as they lie below the sand. However, there are some precautions that can be taken to avoid a sting. Irish Water Safety is advising people to avoid swimming approximately one to two hours at either side of low water to reduce the risk of being stung. They also recommend that people wear flip flops or sandals when walking on the beach close to low water.
In incidences of stinging, people are advised seek a lifeguard’s assistance. The injured will need to put their foot into water above 40 degrees Celsius to help to increase the blood flow and assist in the natural cleaning and healing of the affected area. It also helps to break down the poison. People have been stung are also sometimes advised to take painkillers and if they develop an allergic reaction, a course of antihistamines is recommended.