[Image: SAAMBR]
Sunday morning’s triathlon training swim off Granger Bay went south fast. A thick fog had rolled in, and just to spice things up, a horde of stinging jellyfish decided to crash the party. Athletes abandoned the water, some sporting fresh welts as souvenirs.
That culprit would have been the Starlight jellyfish – also known as “night light” jellies – that have been washing up all week along Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard.
Regulars at Saunders Rocks beach, famous for its tidal pool and cove, have been dodging these gelatinous invaders, opting for safer, sting-free swims.
“Unfortunately, the sea was full of jellyfish, so I had to get over to the pool,” a Saunders regular grumbled on Friday. Another swimmer shared photos of the tidal pool, now more jellyfish haven than cold plunge refuge.
According to The South African, Dave The Dolphin Whisperer – yes, that’s what he calls himself – dropped a warning in the Bay of Sewage community WhatsApp group, posting a shot of a thick bloom of pinkish-purple jellies.
“Warning! These ‘night light’ jellyfish sting! A good few ‘tri-athletes’ got stung this morning off Granger Bay (race was cancelled due to fog and jellies)… saw some nasty welts round necks and faces.”
The fact is, as Dave confirmed, these jellies are rare visitors to the Atlantic side.
“We don’t see them often but we’ve got a lot in at the moment,” he said. “Today there were loads, I’ve never seen this many. They also don’t usually come into this side of Cape Town as they are a warm water species.
In January this year, Durban swimmers were treated to a bloom of night light or mauve stinger jellyfish on the beach, IOL reported, which makes a little more sense as the waters there are warmer.
South African Association for Marine Biological Research (Saambr) spokesperson Ann Kunz stated that while the KwaZulu-Natal coastline falls within their natural distribution, these pelagic species are not typically found near the shore, but said the strong winds must have pushed them in.
She also confirmed that these small, beautiful jellyfish can sting on contact even after washing up on the beach.
“If you or your child are stung by one of these jellyfish, rinse the affected area continuously with warm water until the pain subsides. Although uncommon, severe reactions or prolonged side effects should be taken to a medical professional,” Kunz advised.
Normally, Cape Town swimmers tangle with box jellies or moon jellies, but this influx of night light jellies has sparked bigger concerns and seems to point to something being off in the seas.
The blooms of these marine floaters can be a red flag for ocean health, and given Cape Town’s dodgy water quality in recent years, the conversation about sewage dumping is back on the table.
Why jellyfish blooms can signal ocean decline:
- Overfishing wipes out predators and competitors, giving jellies free reign.
- Climate change turbocharges jellyfish reproduction, especially in warming waters.
- Nutrient pollution (read: sewage and agricultural runoff) fuels algal blooms, creating oxygen-depleted zones where jellyfish thrive.
- Coastal development provides more surfaces for jellyfish polyps to settle and spread.
- Ocean acidification wrecks marine ecosystems but barely fazes jellyfish.
It is also worth considering that jellyfish booms can happen naturally, even in healthy waters.
So, is the jellyfish invasion a sign of oceanic doom? Maybe. Or maybe they’re just having a moment.
Either way, if you’re planning a swim, maybe pack some vinegar – just in case.
[Source: The South African]
