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Fishermen from Sicily, are facing a growing problem caused by bearded fireworms. These predators, which thrive in the warming Mediterranean Sea, are devouring fish caught in nets, leaving them half-eaten and unsellable.
The centipede-like creatures, measuring 15 to 30 centimetres long, are equipped with venomous white bristles that can sting fishermen upon contact.
The increasing presence of fireworms is attributed to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change, creating an ideal habitat for them to flourish year-round. Fishermen like Alfonso Barone are forced to reduce the time their nets are in the water to minimise the damage, resulting in smaller catches.
“They eat the head, the whole body, they gut it,” Barone said.
“With global warming the waters are heating up and becoming an ideal habitat for them, and they are growing in number, year on year… the whole year round,” he added.
The worms, once confined to the waters off Sicily during summer, are now migrating northward, with cases reported in Calabria, southern Italy.
Beachgoers in Marzamemi are also affected, with many donning masks or water shoes to protect themselves from potential stings.
The warming Mediterranean is causing other changes, such as the loss of habitat and mass mortality events for certain species. Additionally, non-native tropical species like the blue crab are invading the ecosystem, causing further disruption.
Zoologist Francesco Tiralongo, who heads a study on the fireworm at the University of Catania, has made a concerning discovery: “You can’t kill a fireworm by cutting it in half, it has excellent regeneration capabilities,” he said. “If you slice it in two, not only does the part with the head regenerate a back half, but the back half manages in about 22 days to regenerate a head.”
The centipede-like creatures, measuring 15 to 30 centimetres long, are equipped with venomous white bristles that can sting fishermen upon contact.
The increasing presence of fireworms is attributed to rising sea temperatures caused by climate change, creating an ideal habitat for them to flourish year-round. Fishermen like Alfonso Barone are forced to reduce the time their nets are in the water to minimise the damage, resulting in smaller catches.
“They eat the head, the whole body, they gut it,” Barone said.
“With global warming the waters are heating up and becoming an ideal habitat for them, and they are growing in number, year on year… the whole year round,” he added.
The worms, once confined to the waters off Sicily during summer, are now migrating northward, with cases reported in Calabria, southern Italy.
Beachgoers in Marzamemi are also affected, with many donning masks or water shoes to protect themselves from potential stings.
The warming Mediterranean is causing other changes, such as the loss of habitat and mass mortality events for certain species. Additionally, non-native tropical species like the blue crab are invading the ecosystem, causing further disruption.
Zoologist Francesco Tiralongo, who heads a study on the fireworm at the University of Catania, has made a concerning discovery: “You can’t kill a fireworm by cutting it in half, it has excellent regeneration capabilities,” he said. “If you slice it in two, not only does the part with the head regenerate a back half, but the back half manages in about 22 days to regenerate a head.”
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