Sting in the tail of rising temperature
According to experts, the rise in temperatures over the last few years has brought about an increase in jellyfish.
Beachgoers are warned to avoid any jellyfish, particularly in the water, where their thin, semi-transparent tentacles may stretch further than you think.
Jellyfish that appear dead on the beach are also to be avoided, as stinging cells may still be working.
Five species of jellyfish are commonly found on Irish beaches. These include the lion’s mane jellyfish, or cyanea capillata, one of the largest species in our waters. Its numbers have been growing over the last few years. Its powerful sting and its abundance have led to beach closures, for example in Dublin in 2005.
A sting from the lion’s mane can cause severe pain and could trigger an allergic reaction and even anaphylactic shock. However, stings from most jellyfish are mild and can pass unnoticed.
According to the EcoJel Project, a collaboration between University College Cork and Swansea University in Wales, there is growing concern that the increase in jellyfish numbers, both here and globally, is due to warmer sea temperatures and the over-fishing of other plankton-feeding species such as herring.
This increase, known as a jellyfish “bloom”, has already had negative impact.
Overabundant jellyfish have been known to cause mass mortalities of farmed salmon, as occurred in Co Antrim in 2007. They can also clog fishing nets and block the cooling water intake of power stations .
Perhaps the biggest issue is that they are thought to feed on fish eggs and larvae, which may further damage fish stocks.