Beachgoers on the French Mediterranean coast are currently experiencing unpleasant encounters with biting fish. These are triggerfish, which are increasingly found on the French coasts due to tropical water temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius – and are likely to become regulars due to climate change.
The bites in legs, feet and toes probably came from 12 to 12 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) long gray triggerfish, which were daring to forage in shallow areas due to climate change and warming seawater, the newspaper “Le Parisien” reported.
Over 40 attacks on Monday alone
On Monday alone, more than 40 swimmers are said to have been attacked by the fish on Hendaye beach near the Spanish border. There were more such incidents near Cannes on the Côte d’Azur and according to the broadcaster BFMTV in the bay of Saint-Tropez.
Trigger fish mainly use their teeth to break open crabs, mussels or sea urchins. However unpleasant such a bite may be due to the 14 teeth in the upper jaw and eight in the lower jaw, it is not really dangerous. Doctors advise that the only important thing is to sufficiently disinfect the affected area.
Particularly aggressive in the breeding phase
As marine fish expert Benjamin Lafon explained to Le Parisien, the heating of seawater tempts the fish to expand their territory when looking for food. And that can end with a bite in the calves of the bathers. During their reproductive phase in the summer, the fish, which are not shy anyway, show themselves aggressively.
Fish becomes regular guest due to climate change
Expert Samuel Somot of the National Meteorological Research Institute (CNRM) also explained that the water on the French Mediterranean coast is currently up to 28 degrees warm instead of the usual 21 to 22 degrees per season. This promotes the return of the fish, which almost became extinct on the French coasts in the last century.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
