Big jellyfish on a beach in Almeria restricts bathing Credit: Pixabay
Year on year more banks of jellyfish are reported around the coast of Spain, by why?
Summer is already in full swing and many of us just want to cool down and relax by taking a plunge into the Mediterranean. But, with the hot weather and warming sea comes an increase in one of nature s little curses, the jellyfish.
Toxic tentacles
Due to toxins transmitted by their tentacles, they are just bothersome to some of us, but in some cases they can cause cnidophobia , an extreme terror of being stung by one. But, why do they appear to be on the increase around our shores? Scientists have pointed to human activity as being one of the main causes.
Overfishing leading to less predators, organic pollution, warmer seas from climate change, all these could be possible explanations to why jellyfish approach our beaches. They are cnidarians, belonging to the same family as corals and anemones, and warm water tends to lead to their numbers increasing.
Sea warmed by 1.4º over the last 40 years
Jellyfish are especially prevalent in the Mediterranean sea which has warmed by an average temperature of 1.4º over the last 40 years, according to Greenpeace. Compounding the issue, some of the jellyfish s natural predators, such as sea turtles and tuna, are on the decline. While as well, organic matter washed into the sea acts as a food source for the jellyfish.
Some beaches use nets to create jellyfish-free waters around their beaches, such as in the Mar Menor, Murcia, but this does little to address the broader problem. Human activity and the imbalance marine ecosystems appears to be favouring more and more jellyfish colonies.
What to do if stung
If you do feel a jellyfish sting you, don t scratch your skin, it will spread the jellyfish toxin. It is advised to remove any scraps of the jellyfish with a piece of plastic such as a credit card. Wash the infected area with sea water, never fresh water from a tap or bottle. Apply something cold, such as a bag of ice, for about 15 minutes, without rubbing the skin. Do not apply ammonia or vinegar to the sore, and consult a pharmacist. When in doubt and if the sting is bad, many beaches have a Red Cross post or lifeguard station.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our
Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Known as the PEOPLE’S PAPER, Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain. And it’s FREE!
Covering the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Almeria, Axarquia, Mallorca and beyond, EWN supports and inspires the individuals, neighbourhoods, and communities we serve, by delivering news with a social conscience. Whether it’s local news in Spain, UK news or international stories, we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home.
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month, EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain. The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close.
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP), Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall). All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers. All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE.
Sign up for personalised news
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Close
