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