While the July 4th weekend is usually a festive time for the beachgoers, a global pandemic has definitely affected the party atmosphere for many.
If this was not enough, then brace yourselves for another hindrance – 100 feet long jellyfish in the Northeastern coasts.
These gigantic sea creatures can reach up to a 100 feet from its head to the end of the tentacles, with diameters that can grow up to four feet wide. One marine biologist said that these jellyfish are more or less the same size as dinner tables – a massive species that is to be reckoned with.
While jellyfish sightings are no news especially as global sea temperatures continue to rise, the sheer size of the jellyfish and its ubiquitous presence from Maine to Massachusetts is a source of yet another headache for local legislative bodies.
The long reaching tentacles of these jellyfish are especially dangerous because divers and swimmers often only identify the body of the jellyfish. Without being careful of every single tentacle, it is possible for people to get stung although the head of the jelly fish is much further away.
Officials have warned both local residents and beachgoers to keep vigilant over these jellyfish. Massachusetts for instance has decided to fly purple flags which denotes the appearance of dangerous marine animals near or in the beaches.
Experts have singled out the sheer number of jellyfish as one of the anomalies for this year. While these jellyfish are normally observed in the deep seas from Spring to early summer, an alarming number of them have been witnessed on the seashores, indicating an increase in population size.
Although there is no conclusive study at this point, marine biologists believe that the turbulent and unstable ocean temperatures of the previous year has likely caused a spike in the number of jellyfish as they were still spawning the polyps.
Because the size of the jellyfish grow in proportion with low temperature, it is unlikely for beachgoers to see large jellyfish. However, as aforementioned, they should keep an eye out for the tentacles.
Moreover, marine biologists warned that jellyfish that seem dead – such as those that end up washed in the beaches – can still sting with their tentacles and thus urged that people do not touch the jellyfish even when on the ground.
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Replaced!