Florida and, by extension, Floridians, are no strangers to threats in their coastal waters. Mother Nature is a force to be reckoned with but when it comes to the ocean, humans are the ones who play in her domain. The most recent threat for beachgoers is a species of marine life that not many think of outside of nature shows and exotic locations: Jellyfish.
While New York has seen an increase in the number of sharks swimming off the ocean waters of Long Island, Florida has been posting warnings about jellyfish hat have been swimming dangerously close to the shore. It's not entirely uncommon to see jellyfish in Florida waters around this time, however - these spikes increase between the months of September and October. The only difference this year is the fact that ocean temperatures are on the rise and now, experts are saying that this could boost the overall population of jellyfish now and in the future.
Frights In The Florida Waters
Brevard County has been facing the most jellyfish reports as of late, with warning signs posted all along the beaches that are color-coded to imply the risk level for swimmers. The problem that some run into is a bit of a catch-22 - beach-goers choose a beach that's somewhat secluded due to the current conditions of the world but end up running into more problems with jellyfish run amok in practically untouched waters. This is something that one beach-goer spoke of when interviewed by Brevard County's News 13.
Upon choosing one beach that was somewhat more isolated than the rest, the visitor and her family didn't realize that signs had been posted warning of jellyfish in the waters. After a short time in the water, she came out with jellyfish stings that "felt like somebody had taken a welding rod and scrapped it" across her body, sensations that are common - yet can be extremely painful - when it comes to jellyfish stings. By the time a person has been stung, it's already too late to avoid the blobby fish, as their tentacles can be fairly long and can become hard to get away from quickly.
While many species are harmless, Florida does see moon jellyfish, box jellyfish, mauve stingers, and even man-o-war, which has been a frequent visitor to some beaches this year. In order to avoid the painful tentacles of these marine animals, it's best to observe the warning signs and always check the water before diving in - and if there's any uncertainty, simply avoid swimming in deep water at all.
What To Do In The Event Of A Jellyfish Sting
There are many proposed treatments for jellyfish, with some of them a bit more intense than others. The best treatment, however, as advised by beach lifeguards, is a mixture of hot water and vinegar. As a precaution, beach-goers can pack a spray bottle with vinegar for their beach trip so that it's ready in the event of a jellyfish sting. The vinegar is meant to take the initial sting out, not unlike the belief of mustard powder for a bee sting.
Are Warmer Waters To Blame?
Experts in Rhode Island have recently noticed a somewhat disturbing trend relating to the jellyfish spike. While this might not be the case in Florida, it could end up having a major impact on the spawning of jellyfish all over. With warmer water temperatures come the growth of phytoplankton, meaning blooms of jellyfish could potentially spawn earlier and more frequently. This trend has played out in Narragansett Bay where jellyfish have bloomed earlier in the season, leading to a troubling prediction that this could continue to be the case, should coastal waters remain warm.
The interesting aspect of all is that the actual number of jellyfish has not increased. While the blooms seem to be occurring outside of their natural timeline and schedule, there don't seem to be an increase in species numbers - at least not in Rhode Island. One theory is that copepods - which are eaten by jellyfish - may also be changing their seasonal routines in order to avoid a mass decline of their species due to being lower on the food chain. The entire ecosystem related to the jellyfish might be adapting to changing seasonal conditions and this is not the first time we've seen it this year. Earlier in the year, Tokyo Bay saw a significant decline and change in its seaweed production in favor of tropical coral due to warmer water temperatures. Only time will tell if these changes will be permanent, but they're definitely not the first.