Ouch! Stinging jellyfish make their come back to Jersey Shore

MONMOUTH BEACH – Clinging jellyfish and potentially painful sting have returned for the Jersey Shore just before the Memorial Day weekend.

About 40 in the dime sized creatures were found in "the hook" in Monmouth Beach by researchers from Montclair University, good state Department of Environmental Protection. Many of them attach themselves to submerged aquatic vegetation and algae in back bays and estuaries and aren’t commonly found on the beach.

The sting through the 60 to 90 tentacles can create severe pain as well as other localized symptoms and, in some instances, cause hospitalization.

They first appeared from the Shrewsbury River in 2016 however are indigenous to the Gulf of mexico. The polyp phase of the life cycle persists from season to season within the Monmouth County river. It had been also spotted inside Manasquan River in 2016.

The DEP and Montclair are researching the way the species found its way into the Shrewsbury River.

The clinging jellyfish, which can be willowy in looks and difficult to recognize, have got a red, orange or violet cross across its middle. Each jellyfish can trail 60 to 90 tentacles that uncoil like sharp threads and emit painful neurotoxins. Clinging jellyfish primarily take advantage of zooplankton.

The DEP suggested anyone wading through marshy areas should wear boots or waders to guard themselves.

If stung by way of a clinging jellyfish, the DEP recommends:

• Apply apple cider vinegar into the area affected to immobilize any remaining stinging cells.
• Rinse the vicinity with brine and take any remaining tentacle materials using gloves or a thick towel. A hot compress or cold pack may then apply to alleviate pain.
• If symptoms persist or pain increases, seek prompt medical help.