Get Involved!

Want to help make a difference? Get involved!

Help Educate:

Request a Jellyfish Project Presentation in your school! Helping the oceans to keep clean by educating will help. One of the causes of jellyfish populations booming is the shifting ocean conditions. The ocean is becoming warmer, a better environment for jellyfish to thrive. Pollution is also giving more surfaces for jellyfish to lay their eggs. Maintaining a clean environment and oceans is one way to help.¹

Volunteer:

Organizations such as the Pacific Cnidaria Research Lab are looking for volunteers! The volunteering may include collecting jellies washed up on shore, a great experience. Search for a local research lab to help out!

Contribute to Jellyfish Projects Around the World:

All around the world scientists are conducting research, tagging Jellyfish and tracking them. The more we know, the more prepared we will be. Check out this List of Jellyfish Projects Around the World.

Stop Overfishing (Spread the Word):

Another way to get involved other than with the ocean and direct jellyfish research projects, is to help stop overfishing by spreading the word. Overfishing is killing off fish populations, causing a decline in the fishing and job industry. When fish no longer inhabit niches of a certain area, jellyfish are capable of moving in and using those niches to lay more eggs. ²

Fun Activity:

Here's a fun activity for your young one. You put a plastic bag that resembled a jellyfish into a water bottle and watch it come to life as you shake the water bottle! It is the Plastic Bag Jellyfish.

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Resources: 
¹ Jellywatch by the Monterey Bay Aquarium 
² A Jellyfish Sandwich? No Thanks! Stopping Overfiishing to Prevent the End of Fish by Libby Fetherston

Jellyfish Lake: The Friendliest Jellyfish

We're going to take a quick 180 here. 

Jellyfish can be harmful, but they are still exquisite creatures. There is an actual lake, Jellyfish Lake, where the resident jellyfish have lost their sting. These jellyfish have not had to fight predators in a long time, and feed off of algae.

A Phenomena:
Sarosh Jacob captures his experience in Jellyfish Lake on video, a breathtaking view of blooms of jellyfish surrounding him to endless waters. Thousands of years have caused these jellyfish to evolve, no longer harmful to humans. The population is at least 8 million jellyfish. ¹ , a marvelous sight to behold and swim through.

Where is it?:
This lake is located in Palau, in Micronesia, a two-hour flight south of Guam. Palau is a part of the UN, but is  very small with its own language that doesn't use all the letters of the alphabet. Palau's economy is based largely off of the waters, boasting of the best diving in the world. ²

I really won't get stung?:
Some people get light stings that they say are no big deal, the lake is completely worth it. It's possible that if the jellyfish brush your lips, it will sting, but what really determines if you get stun is the sensitivity of your skin. However, the beauty of Jellyfish Lake is something not something you want to miss. ³

What do the jellyfish do?:
"Instead, they spend their days in privileged leisure, pulsating gently from one side of the lake to the other while catching the sun's rays and farming their own food supply of algae." -Jody MacDonald, a professional photographer. ³

Jellyfish Lake is the only place in the world where humans can swim safely in millions of jellyfish. ³

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Resources: 
¹ Jellyfish Lake by Sarosh Jacob
² Palau's Jellyfish Lake and More Must-See Destinations by Jenny Block
³ Welcome to 'Jellyfish Lake' - where swimmers take a dip with millions of marine animals which have lost their sting by Chris Parsons

They be Multiplyin' (Jellyfish)

A Comb Jelly is capable in theory of starting its own population because it can release 8,000 eggs into the water per day. The Comb Jelly is known for invading the Black Sea, the most polluted ocean in Europe with no natural predators of the Comb Jelly, and suffering from overfishing. Jellyfish can multiply quite quickly. ¹²

What makes them Grow Grow Grow?:
A variety of factors make make jellyfish reproduce much quicker and more efficient compared to the conditions before.

Food Supply:
An abundant food supply can allow a jellyfish to double its weight daily, allowing it to reproduce shortly after being born.²

Reproduce Quickly:
Female jellyfish can release tens of thousands of eggs per day. In addition, the fertilization of an egg and sperm produces a bottom dwelling polyp that is capable of reproducing by budding, creating even more jellyfish. ²

Able to Live in Low Oxygen Areas:
Jellyfish are one of the few sea creatures that are capable of living in Dead Zones. The Dead Zones have very low oxygen levels, but jellyfish can still thrive. They can dissolve oxygen in their tissues from other areas, bringing their own oxygen supply into a Dead Zone. Being made of 95% water, a jellyfish does not need as much material to survive as other sea creatures. In addition to not requiring as much oxygen, jellyfish are also  capable of surviving for weeks without any food.²

Dead Zones:
Jellyfish also lack predators and competitors in Dead Zones that would control their population. Jellyfish don't survive in Dead Zones, they thrive. There are over 400 Dead Zones in existence, many inhabited largely by jellyfish.²


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Resources: 
¹ Black Sea by the National Science Foundation
² Bloomin' Magic by the National Science Foundation

Box Jellyfish

The jellyfish live all over the world. There exists 400 vast Dead Zones in world oceans that are too polluted for almost all life except for jellyfish. They inhabit depths of water from shallow to the deepest abyss. 

How many different ones are out there?:
Scientists haven't discovered every single species of jellyfish, but there are officially over 200 species. Some scientists believe that number will reach 2,000 easily. As technology advances, scientists can explore more marine environments and have the tools to analyze more types of jellyfish. Identifying the main types is still a wise choice to learn especially if you get stung. ¹

What jellyfish do I really have to be on the lookout for?
The Box Jellyfish is the most venomous jellyfish of them all. A person dies within 3 minutes after being stung by one. The Box Jellyfish fires nematocysts into the skin within 3 milliseconds of being triggered, injecting millions of harpoons of venom into a large area of tissue which absorbs it rapidly. Children are more prone to the stings. National Geographic has a photo of the Box Jellyfish that you should look at to recognize this venomous creature. ³

How do I avoid this specific jellyfish?:
The box jellyfish has the 'stinger' season for the Northern Territory; from October 1st to June 1st. The most recommended protection is stay out of the water during the stinger season, and if entering the water, to wear protective clothing such as a wet suit. ³

What do I do if someone is stung by a Box Jellyfish?:
It is important to give immediate first aid. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be needed.
Remove the patient from the water and restrain if necessary (restrain if having a seizure). Call for help. Start CPR if necessary. Douse the stung area with vinegar to neutralize the poison - never with fresh water. Seek urgent medical assistance with rapid transport. Antivenom may be required. ³

Fatalities?:
40 people obtain an injury from a jellyfish sting and are taken to a hospital or health clinic. 64 people have died, and the number keeps rising. ³ 

Possible Cure?:
Researching have found a zinc-based compound that prevented death in mice that were injected with the venom from Box Jellyfish. The research is still in progress, but seems promising. ²


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Resources: 
¹ Where They Live by the National Science Foundation
² Possible Cure for Deadliest Jellyfish Sting Discovered by Tia Ghose
³ Chironex fleckeri by the Centre  for Disease Control of the Northern Territory Government

Not just the Sting

Jellyfish stinging humans isn't the only concern out there. They are causing harm to industries such as tourism, fishing, and direct harm to certain power plants across the globe as well.

The Jellyfish Population is Increasing!:
The jellyfish population is always increasing naturally, but there is speculation that its increasing at an alarming rate. There are several factors that can cause this, and some of these factors are tied back to the impact of humans on an ecosystem. ³

Human Activity:
There is much speculation that human activities are the cause of the rise of the jellyfish and taking over the oceans.
♠ Overfishing allows jellyfish to inhabit the areas previously inhabited by fish, now able to consume larger scales of eggs and larvae of fish, shrimp and crabs. ¹
♠ Human-induced eutrophication or the addition of excessive nutrients (from fertilizer runoff and sewage) cause algae and plankton blooms, giving a larger food source for jellyfish. The reduction of oxygen is also not   as much a problem to jellyfish as it is to other sea creatures since jellyfish don't need a lot of oxygen. ¹

Jellyfish Activity?:
Jellyfish have costed much to industries as well (possible speculation).
♠ Over $350 million in losses in the Black Seas's fishing and tourism industry from the invasion of the comb jelly. ² 
♠ November 2007, jellyfish blooms wipe out Northern Ireland's salmon farm killing over 100,000 fish. ² 
♠ Coastal power plants are acquiring damage from jellyfish blocking the cooling vents. ² 

Again, it is still speculation that jellyfish are reproducing at unnatural rates, and there is even more speculation that the jellyfish populations must be controlled in some manner. Further research and examination is needed by scientists.


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Resources: 
¹ Explosion in jellyfish numbers may lead to ecological disaster, warn scientists by Tracy McVeigh
² Jellyfish 'may benefit from ecosystem instability' by Mark Kinver
³ Jellyfish: On the Rise or Not? by Neel Patel

How-to Treat your Jellyfish Sting

Here's a step by step how-to on how to treat a jellyfish sting.

1. Do you know what type of jellyfish it was? 
If the jellyfish that stung you was a Box Jellyfish, then you need to seek emergency medical attention ASAP. A person can die within 3 minutes from a Box Jellyfish sting. If you do not know what type of jellyfish that stung you, check for the symptoms.

2. Watch for Symptoms of Anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis can cause a drop in blood pressure resulting in anaphylactic shock or a heart attack.
♠     Itching
♠     Hives
♠     Shortness of Breath
♠     Wheezing
♠     Tightening of Throat
♠     Flushed Skin
♠     Weakness
♠     Dizziness

3. Rinse the tentacles off. (Do not touch the tentacles)
♠     Use hot water or vinegar if possible (Vinegar isn't recommended by scientists, but is a popular home remedy)
♠     Alternatively use sea water, do not use fresh as fresh water may worsen the pain.
Do NOT squeeze around the stung area tightly. You want to keep the blood circulating or the sting area may become intoxicated.

4. Peel off the tentacles. (Do not touch the tentacles)
Wear a glove. Do NOT use your bare hands. Use a stick, shell, tweezers, or the glove to remove any tentacles on the wound. Do NOT get the tentacles on yourself or on your clothes, the tentacles are still venomous. The tentacles must be removed because the tentacles will continue to sting until it has used all of its venom. 

5. Immerse the stung area in hot water.
If you don't have a thermometer, then try to get as hot water as possible that the victim can endure. Do NOT burn the victim. The water generally needs to be over 122 degrees to be extremely effective.

6. Pain Relief.
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen helps to relieve pain. For mild itching, use diphenhydramine. 
Urine doesn't always work on a jellyfish sting. Urine may not have enough acid to neutralize the venom. 


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Resources: 
How To Treat a Jellyfish Sting by Rod Brouhard
Jellyfish Facts by Nathan Dickerson

Infograph: Jellyfish Locations

Click the image to enlarge.

This map is based off of research and reports of jellyfish and is not entirely accurate. However, it is an estimation on where the jellyfish are most populated. The most lethal jellyfish, the box jellyfish, are located in the tropical areas of the world.

Jellyfish on the Rise

Here's a change in pace with a guest blogger post from Michael!

The after encounter with jellyfish can turn a dream vacation into painful nightmare with pesky ocean creatures. A few rare deaths by jellyfish have brought sheer terror to a non-swimmer afraid of tentacles. The jellyfish move along oceans water currents because the species migrates without any control of directional movement. With storms and high tides can strand these pests onto shores where unsuspecting tourist get stung. Beach patrol will now have the bigger duty to look for deadly sharks fins and swarms of jellyfish close to the coastline. Ocean ecosystems fluctuate even more with pollution and overfishing causing less diverse organisms to breed. Foreign coastal regions have to close down beaches more often for public safety during peak seasons of foreign tourism. ¹

The mass hysteria of why jellyfish are so unique is their primitive phylum class of not possessing bones, brain, and heart. But for the first time these ancient species are being used as decorations into living room homes. Reef Eden International crafted a special tank that can hold non-stinging moon jellyfish. An overdrive consumerism attached to these creatures is a much larger global problem. So a creature that has existed for millions of years is outrageously expensive purchase for such a short life span creature that may never even go extinct! Tourist money is crucial for these local shops to stay financially stable through rough seasons. This is just an apprehensive example of nature’s deceiving beauty until shining light onto the real demons. The issue is a fishy topic with a look rather than hands on approach, which is hurting the world. Global warming is prevalent with precursors in these new schools of jellyfish reaching uncharted luxurious salt-water locations. ¹

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Resources: 
¹ Jellyfish become trendy new pet in UK as Brit firm sells out of high-tech tanks by Lucy Waterlow

So what exactly are they? (Jellyfish)

Jellyfish range from less than an inch to up to 7 feet in diameter, and the largest jellyfish have tentacles over 100 feet long. The jellyfish exist in every single major oceanic area of the world, residing in shallow coastal areas to over 12,000 feet deep. They're everywhere!

They don't have a brain:
That's right. Jellyfish don't have brains. They aren't predators attacking us intentionally; the big bad jellyfish isn't going to come after you. What they have is an elementary nervous system that gives them basic responses to stimuli such as light and odor, enough to just feed and exist. The jellyfish radial symmetry allows them a 360 degree sensory system, so you won't be sneaking up behind it!

How do they even eat?:
Jellyfish have a mouth at the base where tentacles are. The tentacles capture prey and push it into the mouth. Jellyfish have a simple digestive cavity, stomach, and intestine, exiting food from the anus. The jellyfish are part of the phylum Cnidaria, having similar relations to others of the same animal grouping such as sea anemones, sea whips, and coral. ¹

They're coming at me!?:
Jellyfish have very limited control over horizontal movement. The ocean current, tides, and wind provide the horizontal movement. So if you see a jellyfish, it's not going to come up to you and sting you, you probably have to run into it. Jellyfish are able to make vertical movements, bobbing up and down. This is because of their sensitivity to light, going deeper while the sun is high, and closer to the surface at other times. ¹

How do they sting?:
Not all jellyfish are venomous to humans. The sting comes from the tentacles of the jellyfish which is embedded with nematocysts. Nematocysts are activated on contact and inject toxin into its prey, generally paralyzing it. Most of the jellyfish species off the southeastern coast only inflict mild stings. However, the majority of stings occur in tropical and warm waters. ¹

Types of Jellyfish:
There are several types of jellyfish, some harmless, some venomous. If you're out there, you might want to look at the different types and recognize which one you should avoid. 
This Jellyfish Species List gives a list of all the species with a detailed description and image. Try looking up what types of jellyfish is local to the vacation area, and then looking it up. ²

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Resources: 
¹ Jellyfish by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
² Jellyfish Species by Nathan Dickerson

Where are they? When do they come close to shore? (Jellyfish)

Jellyfish in the waters can be extremely difficult to see!
Q. What's the best way to avoid them?
A. By knowing the hot spots and hot times.

Where:
Scientists have not created a jellyfish radar, but many have tagged jellyfish to track their whereabouts and movements like the EcoJel Project which tags jellyfish in the Irish Sea.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has a Jellyfish Sightings Map where people from all over the world report where they spotted jellyfish and what type of jellyfish. This is the most user friendly map to finding a general area of where jellyfish are most prominent. ² 

They're multiplying?!:
Q. Are rumors that jellyfish populations are increasing true?
A. Research on jellyfish populations have only begun recently and there is not enough evidence to say that the jellyfish are multiplying at an alarming rate. Jellyfish naturally breed in the right conditions, and jellyfish populations are always increasing. However, due to climate changes affecting ocean temperature, there is a possibility that the jellyfish population is increasing at higher rates. ³

When:
Jellyfish generally come nearer to the shore 7-11 days after the full moon, when the tide is high. It is always possible for them to be closer to the shore on other days as well so it is best to be prepared. Jellyfish go where the current takes them, especially when strong currents and winds occur. After a vicious storm, there is a higher probability that jellyfish will be closer to the shore. Jellyfish will also go where the food goes, sometimes bringing them closer to shore. ⁴*

Hawaii:
Hawaii's Hawaiian Lifeguard Association made a Box Jellyfish Calender for estimations on when Box Jellyfish will be closer to shore based on history. The Box Jellyfish are deadly, and should be avoided at all costs. The Hawaiian Lifeguard Association also provides a calender for the hot times for the jellyfish called the Man-O-War. ¹


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Resources: 
¹ 808jellyfish.com by the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association
² EcoJel Project  by Fireball Media
³ Fun Facts About Jellyfish by the Monterey Bay Aquarium
⁴ Mystery of thousands of washed up jellyfish explained by WECT
* Thousands of jellyfish wash ashore on South Padre Island by Daisy Barrera

First-Aid For Jellyfish Stings

The waters won’t tell you where the jellyfish are, and chances are you aren’t going to see it before you are stung. So how do you know it’s a jellyfish that stung you?

Symptoms:
♠ Burning pain for the first hour
♠ A rash where the sting occurred
♠ Nausea, Headaches, Weakness, Dizziness, Cramps
♠ Chest pains, hyperventilation, Severe Vomiting

The rash will sting and, depending on the type of jellyfish, can take just a few hours to disappear. However, some stings can leave a permanent scar. Treating the sting immediately will most likely reduce scarring.

What do I do?! It burns!:
♠ Read this How-To Treat Your Jellyfish Sting in another blog post

The deadly:
Most likely the jellyfish you encounter will not require medical help. However, there are deadly jellyfish that exist. The Box jellyfish sting needs to be treated as soon as possible. It causes cardiovascular collapse, respiratory failure, and neuromuscular paralysis, which kills. 
Knowing where Box Jellyfish are is the best way to avoid them. Later this blog will discuss the locations of jellyfish, their hot spots and hot times.

But what is the best remedy?

Prevention:
♠ Know the waters. Know the jellyfish tendencies of the area.
♠ Know the jellyfish hot spots and hot times. After a vicious storm, jellyfish can be washed ashore and be pushed closer to the beach than you want.
♠ Be prepared by purchasing jellyfish sting protection and relief products at your local diving supply store or Ebay. 
♠ Safe sea lotion neutralizes chemicals on the skin that will cause a jellyfish to sting if in contact. The lotion must be reapplied every hour or more often if active. 
♠ Wear a wet suit. For increased activity in the water, it’s better to wear a wet suit. This is the most common jellyfish sting protection, and protects a majority of the skin. The wet suit will also keep your body temperature warmer.
♠ Nylon panty hose is also an effective jellyfish sting protection. Lifeguards will wear these over their legs and arms. 

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Resources:
¹ Jellyfish Facts by Nathan Dickerson

They're Everywhere! (Jellyfish)

The next time you’re vacationing in the beautiful waters of a popular tourist attraction like Hawaii, you might want to check the water for massive swarms of stinging jellyfish.
The jellyfish population has increased, some swarms covering hundreds of square miles, causing distress to the average tourist and a possible vacation nightmare.

I was vacationing in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, excited for my already paid Jet Ski hour ride. After multiple security measures and preparation for the ride, I was ready to board the Jet Ski - when I looked down into the water where I was about to step. Great white blobs plagued the water surface, wringing fear into my heart. Jellyfish. What if my sister fell off? What if my mom, who can’t swim, was stung while trying with all her heart to not drown?

I wish I had been more aware of the jellyfish. Luckily no one fell, however, I feared to even go into the water after that on my beach vacation, harming my experience, and most likely being crossed off for a potential future visit.

These irritable and potentially deadly jellyfish swarms are a threat to the average tourist, costing them unpleasant pain, cancellation of a planned and paid for vacation, and possibly their life. ³
If the naive tourist were to tour the Sea of Japan, they may encounter hundreds of millions of refrigerator-sized jellyfish. ²

Annual Jellyfish Facts:
♠ 500,000 jellyfish stings are reported in the Chesapeake Bay. ¹ 
♠ 20 to 40 people are killed from Box Jellyfish stings in the Philippines ¹ 


We can avoid these casualties, and we can stop contributing to the influx in the jellyfish population.
First, we need to be aware that they are out there.

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Resources: 
¹ Jellyfish Gone Wild by the National Science Foundation
² Jellyfish On the Rise in World's Coastal Ecosystems in ScienceDaily
³ Massive Jellyfish Swarms In Hawaii, Gulf of Mexico And Other Locations in ScienceDaily