Jellyfish and weevers affect west coast beaches

Weever fish come into shallow water in summer. They bury themselves in the sand and when stood on extend their dorsal fin, embedding it in a foot and injecting venom that causes extreme pain.

Six jellyfish species live in UK waters and frequent Bailiwick shores, as well as the polyp Portuguese man o’ war.

‘There’s been a lot of jellyfish lately,’ said Fin Whitmore, Guernsey Surf School senior instructor.

‘We’ve had westerly winds blowing in, which have brought the blue and purple ones mostly, and some compass jellyfish. The winds have switched now though.

‘Usually weever fish stings are all right and it’s only at low tide they are around.’

Mim’s West Coast Kiosk at Cobo saw two girls with stings on Tuesday and they were given buckets of hot water.

There were reports of a weever fish sting on Cobo on Sunday.

Their stings can be treated by soaking the affected area in hot water. This breaks up the venom and usually after around 10 minutes, the pain will ease.

Vistas owner Nick Percy said: ‘I’ve heard of one so far this year. Every year you get it and normally there’s quite a few.

‘But it’s only on certain tides, on three-quarter tides. Now is when they tend to come out.’

‘Even dead jellyfish can still sting, so it’s best to stay away,’ said Guernsey Biological Records Centre manager Elizabeth Sweet.

‘Vinegar doesn’t work for all – it is very much species-dependent, so seek medical advice.

The Portuguese man o’ war is the most dangerous species, which we only really get with strong autumn winds.’

At Pembroke, Beach House waiter Ben Hislop has never encountered stings in two years.

Similarly, a Pembroke kiosk spokesman said nobody has asked for assistance with stings.

Jenny Harding, of L’Islet kiosk, has seen a few beached jellyfish.

‘They look like big see-through blobs. There’s been talk lately on social media, but I’ve had nobody with stings.’