Since the beginning of the summer, several bites from swimmers have been recorded both in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. Where do they come from?
We could baptize them “beach piranhas” as their presence is particularly noticed this summer on the beaches of France. It’s the big comeback of the triggerfish, a species of schooling fish that is particularly threatening this summer. Interviewed by the Sud-Ouest newspaper, a chief of the rescue station in Hendaye in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques confirms these injuries observed by tourists on his beach. “We are used to stings, jellyfish, but this is the first time I have seen this phenomenon”, explains Yann Huynh-Tot.
Where are they ?
Hendaye is not the only seaside resort affected, far from it. Cases have been reported on the Atlantic coast but also in the Mediterranean near Cannes. “I did not have pain because I moved immediately”, testifies to the Parisian a young man on vacation in Théoule-sur-Mer who says he “felt something biting his ankle”. Generally, bites are not very painful and leave few scars but can frighten children, who are not likely to return to bathe after a bite!
How to recognize them?
Triggerfish are fish that feed on shellfish and crustacean shells. To enjoy it, they have teeth, far from the frightening ones of piranhas or sharks but still present in number: 14 at the top and 8 at the bottom. In France, the common species is gray with small spots with bluish reflections, recalls Le Parisien this Thursday.
Why are there so many of them and why do they bite humans?
Triggerfish are in the breeding season in summer, which explains their somewhat more aggressive behavior since they are likely to defend nest and offspring. The female triggerfish digs a hole to bury her eggs in, the male being responsible for protecting the nest. Beware of those who approach! Usually, the triggerfish is only rarely found on the beaches, but climate change and warming waters could explain their greater presence near the beaches this summer. Finally, note that the triggerfish has been considered a “vulnerable” species since 2015 due to its overfishing. You have been warned!