Swimmer gets between barracuda and dinner

| 16/10/2017 | 23 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): A man who was swimming off Seven Mile Beach by the Westin Hotel on Friday appears to have been bitten by a barracuda, according to officials from the Department of Environment (DoE), but they said it was very unusual and there was no cause for people swimming or enjoying other water activities in the area to be alarmed. Following investigations, officers from the DoE said they believe the man encountered the barracuda while it was feeding in a school of fish. 

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Category: Local News, Marine Environment, Science & Nature

Comments (23)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Lesson: If you see a large school of fish, just don’t join the crowd. Watch them from a distance . because you may mistaken for them.

  2. This is not a common happening here in Cayman BUT it has happened at least twice before and both times were on the Seven Mile beach area.Pan Cayman House and also Caribbean Club which were quite close together back in those days.Both times occurred with peeps standing in waste deep water and tiny jacks and some wrasses were swimming around their legs when the Barracuda went after the fish and missed.One case needed several stitches to close the wound and the other was superficial but still painful I am sure.Maybe some of you might remember the large manta ray cruising the beach scaring swimmers until the police boat came out and chased the Manta down and killed it.It was swmming in quite shallow water and its fins would break the surface and many thought it was sharks hence the police chase.Glad we are a little smarter these days but I still remember the Manta was buried on the beach later.

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    • Anonymous says:

      I find that manta story to be a sad tale, wrong in the community that hosts the Scuba Diver hall of fame.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I’m assuming Dart will take care of these annoying fish soon.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Always remember that while swimming we are in their habitat. Respect the wild life always. Even then, some mishaps are bound to happen as these are wild animals in their natural habitat.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    I’m not sure why it’s even a story.

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    • Michel says:

      Why is it story ? Being bitten by a Barra before ? To advise others Sherlock that a Barracuda attack can occur and to prevent if possible future attack. Where is the compassion. WE CARE about such incidents Rare occurence but good to know.

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  6. Anonymous says:

    I’ve always heard if someone is wearing a shiny object or jewelry, a fish like a barracuda could mistaken it for dinner. I don’t know anything about coming in the way of a school of fish ?

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    • Anonymous says:

      That is a complete myth.

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      • Anonymous says:

        No it’s not. Predatory fish are attracted too and will attack shiny objects out of pure animal instinct.

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    • Virginia says:

      Unfortunately, I have noted a baracuda feeding on smaller fish while swimming behind Alfresco. It was very unnerving to me and my young daughter so we got out of the water right away.

      All I know is their toothy smile is menacing.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Whenever I see a school of fish swimming towards me at a great rate of knots, I always think “what’s chasing them?” and try to get out of the way. Not always possible…and there are a lot of Barracuda on SMB right now.

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  8. Crab Claw says:

    Bara’s are like the wild dogs of the sea, most locals that snorkel will not do so with any shiny objects on, i was taught that as a kid, cause they will bite, heck one of the best things to catch them with is a silver spoon hook, this is nothing to be concerned over, after all we are invading their territory.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    I’m more than a bit surprised by this report. I can remember many years ago being buddied up with an underwater photographer who was visiting Little Cayman. He was feeding a swarm of small fish to get his photos when a huge barracuda came steaming in for a snack and took several of them out but it never came near me or my buddy. I also remember an incident from my time in the Red Sea when another photographer tried to feed a big moray eel and got bitten. Are we getting the whole story here? Based on the few documented barracuda attacks that there have been it appears they (like morays) normally leave human beings well alone.

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  10. Anonymous says:

    Did the swimmer see the school of fish prior to the attack? How has DOE come up with this conclusion?

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    • Anon says:

      More than likely, the Barracuda was chasing a small bait fish and the swimmer just came in the way at the wrong time. However there are lots of Barracudas near the Westin and Governors House area. I find them a little too brave, we need to catch a couple of them just for safety.

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      • Anonymous says:

        I understand our right to decide who lives in our country on the land. But do we have the right to be in charge of immigration for the sea also. How do we decide which ones should be caught? A point system?

    • Anonymous says:

      Very provoking questions…couldnt have learned this is school…

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      • Anonymous says:

        You probably should have went to school to learn more about these types of things. Your shitty Grammer is evidence that you either weren’t there or weren’t involved.

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