Following widespread reports of large blooms of the Pelagia noctiluca jellyfish along the coast of southern France, swimmers are being advised to take precautions to limit their chances of being stung.
In the last few weeks, an increasing number of sightings of the Pelagia noctiluca jellyfish in the area between Monaco and Marseille have been reported by swimmers and specialists alike.
Speaking to the French language newspaper France 3, Delphine Thibault, a Marseille-based oceanographer, said, “There is a large current that runs along the coast in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, which deviates offshore from Port-Cros and heads towards Spain. This current fluctuates with the winds. Last week, the region was swept by a strong Mistral wind, which pushed the surface waters out to sea. When it fell, a southerly wind, the Sirocco, took over, bringing the surface water towards the land. It is the sequence of these two winds that favours the return of the jellyfish.”
Essentially, it is thought that the recent weather conditions have impacted local currents, drawing the jellyfish towards the Riviera “against their will”.
It is somewhat unusual to see the Pelagia noctiluca species in these waters during the summer months. The jellyfish prefer cooler temperatures of around 18ºC, rather than the balmy 25°C recorded by marine weather stations in recent days.
Given their particularly strong sting, which can cause burns and blisters, swimmers are being advised to take certain precautions when entering the water. These include special sun creams that can reduce the power of a sting and long-sleeved swimming costumes.
To check on the status of your local beach or destination, the interactive jellyfish map produced by ACRI is entirely free to use and is updated daily. You can also use the platform to report sightings of jellyfish.
To read how to treat jellyfish stings appropriately, click here.
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Jellyfish sightings and stings on the rise in the French Riviera
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Photo credit: Oceanogràfic de Valencia