A warning from Green Sefton after people stung by Weever Fish.

Always wear beach shoes, sandals or wellies if you’re going for a paddle on the beach.Weever Fish are common in the shallows.

They like to bury themselves in soft sand so are often in the sea on our most popular beaches. Now for a fish thats 2inches long you wouldn't think it was a threat. However many many adults and children every year step on them. Unfortunately they have a poisonous spine on their backs...and the pain?? Well lets say it can be holiday spoiling

So how to protect yourselves...the easiest way is to purchase some beach shoes, they can be purchased pretty much everywhere and are cheap...better eco friendly if you take them home and bring them next year!!

If you decide to risk going bare foot and fall foul. There are no quick treatments but a simple one does exist

Hot water, as hot as you can stand it and change regularly for 60-90minutes

Also tweezers to remove any spines. (They keep pumping toxins if you leave them)

However i warn you...the pain is intense. Like nothing you have ever felt

Personally.....I'd buy the beach shoes!

Is it worse than the agony you endured having your Covid jab.

Originally Posted by Little Londoner

Is it worse than the agony you endured having your Covid jab.

Symptoms of Weever stings are ; swelling, itching, numbness, headaches, joint aches, and occasionally vomiting. If more serious symptoms are presented, like breathing difficulties, then seek emergency help, especially for people who are susceptible to allergies.

I have neve seen any evidence of these on our beaches - one would have thought you would come across the remains at some time or another. At present, the most common stings are from jelly fish.

Originally Posted by said

I have neve seen any evidence of these on our beaches - one would have thought you would come across the remains at some time or another. At present, the most common stings are from jelly fish.

Whilst working on the beach many years ago ,I can tell you that ,there are weaver fish in our waters and the sting is very painful. If anyone knows any shrimpers thay will tell you that in there nets they get quite a few.as suggested wear foot protection.

When I saw my first weever fish, I was surprised at its small size - like a smallish goldfish. Note the size of the fingers holding the one in the pic. This is why they're so hard to spot, along with their habit of being in the sand often near waters edge where you might paddle.

Originally Posted by bongo

Whilst working on the beach many years ago ,I can tell you that ,there are weaver fish in our waters and the sting is very painful. If anyone knows any shrimpers thay will tell you that in there nets they get quite a few.as suggested wear foot protection.

Thanks for that - guess I have just been lucky. Still better than the Candiru fish, eh?

Originally Posted by SteveandLois

Symptoms of Weever stings are ; swelling, itching, numbness, headaches, joint aches, and occasionally vomiting. If more serious symptoms are presented, like breathing difficulties, then seek emergency help, especially for people who are susceptible to allergies.

They have been around longer than you or me so to not get stung you have TWO choices wear footwear to go in the water or DON'T go in the water you don't need a chapter from War & Peace to explain.
Living by the sea(well when it comes in) you tend to have been warned by parents, grand parents about them but I realise that parenting has as near as damnit disappeared but even putting out the information will probably fall on deaf ears. Or is it a sign of the modern day were Sefton frightened of litigation have to warn everyone about every possible danger.
Peanut butter contains peanuts you have been warned.

I was almost caught out by these little fellas whilst fishing from Penzance pier whilst on holiday back when I was a teenager. I caught two of them over a few days fishing. And it was only down to a couple of locals that came running over shouting 'Don't touch that', that saved me from perhaps some nasty stings or worse. They kindly explained what it was and how to properly deal with them should I catch another.. Which I did a couple of days afterwards.

Every local shrimper I've spoken to has been stung by these little devils.