Fishy Facts for Dispelling Marine Myths

Have you ever heard that rubbing two spoons together while breathing through your nose and crossing your eyes will cure your foot fungus?! You have now. And thus, a tall tale is born. Okay, not really. What we commonly call a tall tale, or an “old wives’ tale,” usually stems from a nugget of truth. As a tall tale is verbally passed down over time, it either retains that nugget of truth or loses it altogether. Let’s look at a few fishy tales to see if they have retained their truth over time and determine the truths underlying those marine myths.

Pufferfish are Poisonous…right?

Have you ever heard that pufferfish have a toxin that will kill you if you eat it? This one is true…for the most part. Although there are species of puffers that do not contain the toxin it can be difficult to determine which species you’re looking at. Here in Texas, we have two species, and both contain a fatal toxin that attacks the nervous system. This toxin is the result of the food they eat. There is a bacterium that is passed up the food chain from small invertebrates to the pufferfish.

The bacterium in pufferfish are metabolized into a toxin and are usually stored in the liver and ovaries but can also be held in the muscles and skin. The high temperatures of cooking will not kill the bacterium should any be present, making it a life-threatening risk if one tries grilling it at home. However, there are some professionals in the world that can safely prepare them through a very specific process. We therefore recommend that only professionals, lizardfish, and sharks make attempts at puffer snacks.

Toadfish are Venomous…right?

Gulf Toadfish, commonly called dogfish, are a type of bottom-dwelling carnivorous fish. They are a slimy, odd-looking fish with a big mouth that can deliver a painful bite. Have you ever heard warnings not to touch or eat them because they have toxins? That tale is false…well, at least in Texas! They do have some cousins that contain mild venom in their spines, but while fishing Texas waters you are looking at our harmlessly squishy species. They do still possess some nasty spines, just not the kind that inject venom. Now, are they good to eat? Well, next time you catch one find your closest daredevil buddy. If you don’t have one of those then it might be you.

Jellyfish stings, Just Pee on it! …right?

“If anything unseen burns the skin it’s a safe bet to pee on it.” That’s what Grandpa always said anyways. Let’s break this tale down by first asking why we would pee on something. The idea of using urine is that it contains compounds, like urea, that could break down the stinging cells of a jellyfish. However, urine does not contain enough of these compounds to do this job effectively, but it does contain a lot of one particular compound…water. Fresh water. An important fact to consider is that freshwater can set off more of the venom in the stinging cells that have lodged into your skin. Therefore, peeing on a jellyfish sting could stimulate more pain!

One of the quickest and easiest ways to combat pain from the stinging cells of a jellyfish is HOT water. The heat breaks down the proteins in the venom, significantly reducing the pain and almost eliminating it after a while. The hot water can be either fresh or salty. As long as it’s sufficiently hot (but not scalding) the toxins will begin to crumble. This trick also works on stingray and hardhead wounds! While on a boat, the fastest way to get hot water is to idle your motor and allow the telltale stream, or the ‘pee’, to run over the affected area. You shouldn’t let your friend pee on you, but you can let your boat!

Vibrio eats your flesh…right?

Vibrio is a bacterium that thrives in warm water temperatures and does occur in our warm Texas waters. But does it actually eat your flesh?! The short answer is…yes. However, it comes with some caveats.

When someone sustains a wound their body is at risk of that wound getting infected. This is why it’s important to clean out wounds before bandaging them to kill off any potential bacteria. It’s common for small cuts to be exposed to bacteria from whatever made the cut and even more common if the cuts are exposed to the elements…in this case saltwater, sand, mud, fish slime, etc. Vibrio vulnificus can eat at the tissue surrounding a wound if

1) The water is warm enough
2) There is vibrio in the water
3) You don’t properly clean out that wound within at least a few hours
4) You have a compromised immune system.

Good hygiene and an understanding of your risk factors play a significant role in avoiding any kind of major damage from this bacterium. If in doubt, always seek professional medical attention.

That was fun! Let’s keep searching for the truth and asking “why.” Stay curious. Life is better outside!