Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, a new marine threat has surfaced to rival sharks as the most dangerous to waterborne humans: Beaches around the world have seen an uptick in jellyfish attacks, with swarms of the gelatinous creatures swamping swimmers from Tampa to Thailand.
A TIME article identified a huge cloud of jellyfish in the waters between southern France and Corsica, menacing some of the world's richest swimmers. Italy's southern coast has been under siege since May, when thousands of mauve stingers eluded fishermen's nets in Calabria and the Aeolian Islands.
Elsewhere in Europe, Portuguese Man o' Wars have been spotted off the coast of Cornwall in England, more mauve stingers in the Shetlands (No! The ponies!), and in San Sebastian, Spain.
70 swimmers have already been treated on the municipal beaches of Busan, South Korea for sting-related injuries under the assault of Nemopilema nomurai, which can grow up to 5 feet in diameter and weigh over 400 pounds at maturity.
Honolulu's Hanauma Bay was closed yesterday after 15 were attacked by box jellyfish, which could be drifting over onto Waikiki Beach next. And in New York, an Argentinean participant in the New York City triathlon two weekends ago was killed after being stung by a lion's mane jellyfish in the Hudson River. The Times quoted a specialist who compared the higher than usual population to a field of dandelions, but we've never heard of a dandelion that KILLED SOMEONE.
At least in Bahrain, savvy entrepreneur Hassan Janusani has found a way to capitalize on the quick reproduction cycle of the floating menace, exporting some 200 tons of jellyfish so far this year to Chinese and Japanese food suppliers. Better eat them before they eat you!
Go straight to our Jellyfish Invasion Map to save yourself!
Related Stories:
· When Jellyfish Attack [TIME]
· Jellyfish Invade Southern Coast [My.Lifeinitaly.com]
· A Painfully Early Arrival for a Summer Nuisance [NYT]
· Taking the Sting out of Jellyfish [Gulf Daily News]
· Toxic Jellyfish Swarm Korea's Coasts [Digital Chosunilbo]
· Hanauma Bay Closed Due to Jellyfish Stings [Honolulu S-B]
· Killer Beaches 2008 coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: billadler]
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