This fellow doesn’t seem
to be overly bothered by the stings as he tries to gather as many
jellyfish as he can.
Patcharapol Panrak
Scuba divers and beachgoers beware: Perhaps as many as a million
jellyfish have moved into Sattahip Bay making a day at the beach a
potentially painful experience.
Royal Thai Navy officials said the invasion of the dangerous, but not
usually deadly, “moon jellyfish” pushed fishermen out of shallow waters
and beachgoers out of the surf. Most of the stinging scyphozoans have
been spotted in Tuay-gnarm Bay and Dongtan Bay.
Soi Yenrudee resident Somchai Chijprajong, 45, said he and other local
fishermen pulled as many as 400,000 jellies out of the sea with their
nets. He said he’s never seen so many and said it must have been caused
by anomalous sea conditions.
Somchai didn’t escape his close encounter unscathed, however. Like other
fishermen, he suffered a number of stings, which he and Navy officials
said can be treated by crushing and applying wild Morning Glory
cultivated by the Navy on area beaches. Scuba divers, many of whom could
find their next dives in Samae San a painful experience, generally treat
jellyfish stings with vinegar and hot water.
Sattahip District Chief Chaichan Iamcharoen urged people to take care to
avoid the jellyfish, as people may have undetected allergies to the
poison. The plume could dissipate within 10 days, he said.
Aurelia aurita - also known as “moon,” “saucer,” or “common” jellyfish -
usually about 25-40cm in diameter, and can be recognized by its four
horseshoe-shaped gonads that are easily seen through the top of the
bell.
