Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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