When visiting coastal areas, encountering jellyfish washed ashore is a common occurrence. These marine animals, often found in large groups called blooms, are not strong swimmers and are largely at the mercy of ocean currents and winds. Onshore winds, changes in sea temperature, or the natural end of their life cycle can all lead to jellyfish stranding on beaches. Understanding what beached jellyfish look like and how to react to them is helpful for beachgoers to ensure a safe experience near the shoreline.
Key Features of Beached Jellyfish
Beached jellyfish appear as gelatinous, translucent blobs. While vibrant in water, their colors often fade, becoming more opaque or milky upon stranding. The bell, or top part of the jellyfish, can retain its dome-like shape, but it can also appear flattened or deflated, especially as it dries out.
Their texture on the sand is slimy, slippery, or rubbery. Over time, exposure to the sun and air causes them to lose their high water content, which is about 95% of their composition, leading them to dry out and shrink. Even in this altered state, remnants of their oral arms and tentacles may still be visible, though often shriveled or broken. Beached jellyfish vary greatly in size, ranging from small, button-sized specimens to larger ones resembling a dinner plate.
How to Tell if it’s a Jellyfish
Distinguishing a beached jellyfish from other items on the sand, such as plastic bags or discarded balloons, requires observing a few key characteristics. Unlike plastic, a jellyfish, even when deflated, retains some discernible internal structure, such as a faint outline of radial canals or reproductive organs. While they can be shapeless, they maintain a certain gelatinous or watery consistency, differing from the uniform thinness of plastic debris.
Jellyfish lack manufactured seams, handles, or printed designs, which are common features of plastic items. As they degrade, jellyfish undergo a natural process of decomposition, becoming more amorphous and shrinking, unlike plastic that largely retains its form. Very fresh specimens can occasionally exhibit slight pulsing movements, indicating it is a marine organism, not inanimate trash.
Safety When Encountering Beached Jellyfish
Beached jellyfish, even those that appear lifeless or dried out, can still deliver a sting. Their stinging cells, called nematocysts, can remain active for hours or even days after the creature has washed ashore. Observe them from a safe distance and avoid touching them with bare hands or feet.
If a sting occurs, first-aid includes rinsing the affected area with saltwater, not fresh water, and carefully removing any visible tentacle fragments. Applying heat or cold, depending on the specific jellyfish type and reaction, can help manage discomfort. For severe reactions, difficulty breathing, or widespread pain, seeking medical attention is recommended. If large numbers of jellyfish are found, informing local authorities or lifeguards is recommended.