Norwegian record Lesser weever: 44 g

About Lesser weever

The lesser weever (Echiichthys vipera), a small venomous relative of the greater weever, occurs from the North Sea and Britain down to Morocco, Madeira and the Mediterranean. In Norway it was first recorded in Skagerrak in 2018, and in 2021 many were seen along the coast near Mandal and Lindesnes. It lives on sand and mud from the shallows off bathing beaches down to about 150 m in winter, usually buried with only its eyes and the jet-black first dorsal fin showing. It is greyish-brown above and paler on the sides, usually about 10 cm. Venom glands sit on the dorsal spines and on a spine on each gill cover, and the sting is extremely painful. In summer 2025 several bathers in southern Norway were stung. Wear beach shoes on sandy beaches, and soak a sting in water as hot as can safely be tolerated. Norwegian Red List 2021: Not Applicable (NA).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann

See the species guide

Biggest Lesser weever in FishComp

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How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.