Jellyfish Swarm Near Sarasota Shore

SARASOTA, FL — Jellyfish are coming in droves to the coast near Sarasota, and this year's intense hurricane season may be to blame.

The folks at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium study the Atlantic sea nettles, and they've been stunned by the population increase this fall.

“I’ve never seen them as prominent as they’ve been this season,” Andrew Angelo, a jellyfish expert, told Your Observer.

One columnist for the Herald-Tribune said he saw "hundreds and hundreds" of the creatures floating near Turtle Beach.

Hurricane Irma and the storm surges that accompanied it appear to be a strong part of the explanation, Angelo said. As the storm brought ocean currents toward Florida's gulf coast, it also brought along zooplankton, the jellyfish's food. Where the zooplankton go, jellyfish are sure to follow.

But the jellyfish surge isn't just a curious marine anomaly — their stings can be quite painful.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following symptoms could be indicate a jellyfish sting:

• Burning, prickling, stinging pain
• Red, brown or purplish tracks on the skin — a "print" of the tentacles' contact with your skin
• Itching
• Swelling
• Throbbing pain that radiates up a leg or an arm

While many jellyfish stings pose little risk, some people have severe reactions to the stings. Severe symptoms can include nausea, headache, weakness, difficulty breathing and heart problems. The Mayo Clinic says anyone with severe symptoms should seek emergency treatment.

One scientist explained to Channel 10 News how the jellyfish use their tentacles to sting people:

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