One way I make myself feel better about not being able to go to the beach is to tell myself that the sea will be full of jellyfish anyway. Anyone who knows me is well aware of my mega jellyfish fear. Yet it's more than just a fear; it's also a fascination. I love being able to identify them when they're stranded on the beach (and can't sting me), and to learn about their weird and wonderful ways.
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| A Barrel Jellyfish washed up on the beach in the winter in North Wales |
I still remember seeing my first jellyfish, when my family holidayed on the west coast of Scotland (we then moved there not long later). There was this huge, red monstrosity on the beautiful white sand. Frankly, it was disgusting, and I remember my Mum being particular grossed out. The thought that they are bobbing around in the sea, potentially near me... *shudder*. I was quite small then, probably about six or seven, so in my memory it was the largest jelly I've ever seen, the size of my upper torso... I think if I were to ask my parents now, I would be told it was considerably smaller.
For a time when I was little I seemed to recover from my jellyfish fear, as I remember running around the beach holding Moon jellies (Aurelia aurita) in my hand. Clear, with four distinguishable purple rings, these do not sting. Funny thing is, I don't think this lasted long, as I couldn't pick them up now. I *shudder* at the thought...
As lovers of sea swimming in the summer, jellyfish posed a problem for my Mum and I, although my Mum worried a lot less about them than I did. They were unreliable. As we sea kayaked around the bay, some days we wouldn't see any, and others presented an influx that made me nervous of lifting my paddle back out the water. Round the coast, in the deeper waters, big monsters lurked below with tentacles longer than my legs. However, when we swam in the bay below our house, we were protected by Dad, paddling around the small bay with a net, ready to remove any that came our way.
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| Heading for a swim under the protection of our jellyfish watcher |
Yet they are sneaky. Once, Mum and I swam, and I watched her carefully make her way out of the water. A red rock, which when we entered the sea was basking in the sun, was now covered by the shallow water, and next to it was a big, red lions mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata). The red rock wasn't red at all, but the jellyfish survived on it while the tide was out, only to float away when the tide changed. My poor Mum, struggling not to slip over the cobbles as it was, made a hasty exit from the bobbing fiend. Nasty things. *Shudder*
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| A Lions Mane washed up on the North East coast of Scotland. Just look at all those nasty stingy tentacles... |
Whilst walking the empty sands on the far north east coast of Scotland during my year living there, I was finally presented with a jellyfish on the beach that I could not identify. Clear, with a faint pattern, I soon looked online and found it was the Crystal Jellyfish, Aequorea Victoria, found off the west coast of North America. How did it come to be in the North Sea? See, fascinating beings.
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| A Crystal Jellyfish found on the north east coast of Scotland. It had a long journey there |
Now, in North Wales, I no longer have the protection of my Dad in his sea kayak. Last summer, at Harlech beach with my partner's family, they couldn't believe how I struggled to enter the sea after seeing a Barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) (not stingers but they can grow to be huge - see this article!) in the shallows. "But you love the sea!" I do... but overcoming this fear is a struggle. After many days working with groups at Criccieth, I knew the seas harboured the nasty compass jellies, recognisable by their browny-orange colour and compass-like markings. I did manage to relax a little and enjoy a swim, but still remained hyper-alert of what floated around me, jumping at any piece of weed floating nearby.
My fear has to be managed. Covering myself head to toe in neoprene is my main way of still enjoying the sea during jellyfish season.
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| Compass jellyfish found on the west coast of Scotland. Give these bad boys a wide berth. Photo by Jon Haylett |
See also:
An old blog post I wrote for my Dad's blog years ago with advice on how to treat a jellyfish sting. I have since read that bathing the stung area in hot water should also help. Do not pee on the sting, as I have read surfers' accounts which state this has only aggravated the pain.
Some rather beautiful jellyfish finds on the west coast of Scotland.
Report your jellyfish sightings to the Marine Conservation Society here.
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