Warning notices for the lesser weever fish, Echiichthys vipera, are few on UK beaches but should be more prominent. Weevers are yellow for disguise and lurk just below the sand surface. Although only 10cm long, they can, if stepped on, or anglers handle them carelessly, deliver a severe sting from spines on their backs.
The weever fish is often mistakenly referred to as the “weaver fish”. The spelling weever comes from the Old French word wivre, which means snake or viper – and with good reason: the sting can be very painful and the spines need extracting. The best treatment is to put the sting in the warmest water you can stand because it breaks down the proteins in the venom and stops the pain.
Climate change has warmed British waters so much that weevers have spread from the south and west coasts to reach northern Scotland and can now be trodden on on any sandy or muddy shore. Their hunting technique is to bury themselves in the sand with only the eyes on the top of their heads protruding, ready to snatch any passing shrimp or small fish. Low tide in shallow water in the summer is the most dangerous time for bathers. In the winter weevers move offshore to hunt in deeper water.
