Increase In Jellyfish Sightings Seen At The Jersey Shore, Report Says

JERSEY SHORE, NJ — As beachgoers get ready for summertime trips to the Jersey Shore, they may want to keep an eye out for jellyfish along the waters, as experts say there’s been an increase in jellyfish sightings throughout the state.

According to a report from ABC6 Action News, more and more jellyfish sightings have been reported in Delaware and New Jersey throughout the year.

Paul Bologna, a biology professor at Montclair State University, told ABC6 that along the coast, there seems to be a “huge number” of mushroom cap and bowling ball jellyfish washing up on New Jersey beaches.

In a call with Patch, Bologna said many of the jellyfish have been spotted in Bay beaches and regions throughout New Jersey, such as Barnegat Bay. When it comes to why sightings may have increased, Bologna said weather could be a factor.

"It got cold and it stayed cold for a month," Bologna said of the recent winter season. "That could have triggered the polyp stage of the jellies to spawn out and create and clone themselves earlier this season or in more numbers."

"A lot of times, that environmental shift causes animals to shift how they do things," Bologna continued. "So that might be why they were so early this year, and why there's so many of them."

Though jellyfish may have popped out early for the season along the coast, Bologna said it's typical to see ones such as mushroom cap jellyfish wash up on the beach. According to him, many of the increased sightings have been in bay regions throughout New Jersey.

"I haven't heard from lifeguards or beach patrols that have said it's [jellyfish sightings] way out of the norm on ocean beaches," Bologna said. "But in those bay beaches, bay regions and lagoons, there's hundreds of them. When you look off your dock, they're just everywhere."

In the Facebook group “New Jersey Jellyspotters,” many residents have shared their own jellyfish sightings throughout the state, with jellyfish found in locations ranging from Longport, NJ, to Long Beach Island.

In the comment section of these posts, other users have tried to help identify the jellyfish found and even added stories and photos of their own sightings throughout the state.

“One bumped my leg in Beach Haven,” one user wrote. “I saw one washed up on the beach in Ship Bottom last week,” said another.

Though you may come across a jellyfish or two while visiting the shore this summer, experts are reminding beachgoers not to panic if they encounter one, and to keep in mind ways to stay safe and treat jellyfish stings.

Stings from marine life, such as jellyfish, can have effects that range from merely painful to serious conditions (such as allergic reactions), according to the American Red Cross.

If stung by a jellyfish, the Red Cross recommends getting out of the water as soon as possible, carefully removing the tentacles with a gloved hand, and immersing the affected area in water (as hot as can be tolerated) for at least 20 minutes or until the pain is relieved.

If stung by a clinging jellyfish (which are smaller jellyfish that can be found in bay and estuarine waters), the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) recommends:

• Applying white vinegar to the affected area to immobilize any remaining stinging cells
• Rinsing the area with saltwater and removing any remaining tentacle materials using gloves, a plastic card, or a thick towel
• Cold packs or ice can then be applied to alleviate pain. A hot compress may also be effective
• If symptoms persist or pain increases instead of subsiding, seek prompt medical attention

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with additional information from Paul Bologna.