Those unfamiliar with the species often base barracuda hysteria on old myths and fisherman’s tales. As divers know, the great barracuda, Sphyraena barracuda, is an easily recognizable fish. It has a long, streamlined body with rows of 18 to 23 dark bars, as well as a distinctive jawline of razor-sharp teeth. This menacing look historically caused fear in humans when, in fact, the barracuda is harmless to people. Here we’ll address some of the common barracuda myths so that the next time your non-diving friends ask, you’ve got the facts.
Myth No. 1: Barracuda are dangerous to people.
Although barracuda are quite curious, there have been only 25 reported attacks in the last century. The majority of documented incidents were severe lacerations. Scientists think that people provoked the barracuda in these cases, triggering its defenses. Most of these attacks also involved spearfishing divers, which caused a fight between the barracuda and the spear fisherman for the catch.
Myth No.2: A barracuda will attack any shiny object that crosses its path.
This persistent myth has frightened people away from diving because of the abundant stainless steel in our equipment. Thankfully for the diving community, the only recorded barracuda attack on a human due to a shiny object occurred in murky waters. The incident was most likely an honest mistake on the part of the barracuda, which thought the object was a fish. Barracuda typically hunt grouper, grunts, jacks, small tuna, snapper and anchovies, as well as other silver, shiny fish. But that doesn’t mean they will attack anything shiny.
Myth No. 3: Barracuda is poisonous if eaten.
Although it’s not recommended to eat, barracuda is definitely not a poisonous fish. As with many other tropical reef fish, you risk ciguatera poisoning if you eat it. Ciguatera is caused by certain plankton that produce the poison, which are later consumed by the larger fish. Unfortunately with the volume of pollution that humans add to the ocean, the concentration of poisons has escalated through the food chain. This means that these larger fish contain higher percentages of these toxins.
Rather than being intimidated by these curious, beautiful fish, divers have an opportunity to dispel common barracuda myths. In fact, humans are far more dangerous to them than they are to us.
BY GUEST WRITER ELIZABETH MAYNOR
Wale wasiojua spishi hiyo mara nyingi hutegemea hekaya za kale na hadithi za wavuvi ili kuchochea hofu yao. Kwa mfano, samaki anayeitwa barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) ni aina ya samaki anayetambuliwa kwa urahisi. Mwili wake ni mrefu na wenye umbo la mviringo, una safu ya mihimili 18 hadi 23 yenye rangi nyeusi, na una meno makali kama makasia. Kwa muda mrefu, watu wamekuwa na hofu kwa sababu ya sura hiyo yenye kutisha, ingawa kwa kweli barracuda hawawezi kuwaumiza watu. Hapa tutazungumzia baadhi ya hadithi za kawaida za barracuda ili wakati mwingine marafiki wako wasio wa kupiga mbizi waulize, uwe na ukweli. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. Barracuda ni hatari kwa wanadamu. Barracuda ni aina ya ndege mwenye kuvutia sana, lakini ni mara 25 tu ambazo wameripotiwa kumshambulia. Matukio mengi yaliyoandikwa yalikuwa majeraha makali. Wanasayansi wanafikiri kwamba katika visa hivyo watu walimkasirisha barracuda, na hivyo kuamsha nguvu zake za kujilinda. Mashambulizi hayo mengi yalitia ndani pia wavuvi wa uvuvi wa mkuki, jambo lililosababisha mapigano kati ya barracuda na mvuvi wa mkuki kwa ajili ya samaki waliovuliwa. Hadithi ya uwongo: Barracuda huua kila kitu kinachoonekana kuwa na rangi nyangavu Hadithi hii ya kudumu imewaogopesha watu wasivuke kwa sababu ya chuma cha pua chenye wingi katika vifaa vyetu. Kwa bahati nzuri kwa jamii ya wapiga-mbizi, shambulio pekee la barracuda lililorekodiwa dhidi ya mwanadamu kwa sababu ya kitu chenye kung'aa lilitokea katika maji yenye giza. Yaelekea tukio hilo lilitokana na kosa la barracuda, ambaye alifikiri kwamba kitu hicho kilikuwa samaki. Barracuda kwa kawaida huwinda grouper, grunts, jacks, tuna ndogo, snapper na anchovies, pamoja na samaki wengine wa fedha, wenye kung'aa. Lakini hilo halimaanishi kwamba watashambulia kitu chochote chenye kung'aa. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. Barracuda ni sumu ikiwa inaliwa. Ingawa haipendekezi kuliwa, kwa hakika barracuda si samaki mwenye sumu. Kama ilivyo na samaki wengine wengi wa matumbawe ya kitropiki, unaweza kuathiriwa na sumu ya ciguatera ukilila. Ciguatera husababishwa na plankton fulani zinazozalisha sumu, ambazo baadaye hutumiwa na samaki wakubwa. Kwa bahati mbaya, kwa kiasi cha uchafuzi wa mazingira ambao wanadamu wanaongeza baharini, mkusanyiko wa sumu umeongezeka kupitia mlolongo wa chakula. Hilo lamaanisha kwamba samaki hao wakubwa wana asilimia kubwa zaidi ya sumu hizo. Badala ya kuogopa samaki hao wenye kupendeza na wenye kupendeza, waogeleaji wana nafasi ya kuondoa hekaya za kawaida kuhusu barracuda. Kwa kweli, wanadamu ni hatari zaidi kwao kuliko wao ni kwa sisi. Kwa mwandishi mgeni Elizabeth Maynard