Jellyfish Invasion Bothering Beachgoers

The Stinging Creatures Showing Up On Sand And In Water In Unusually High Numbers

(CBS)  In the waters off Long Beach, N.Y., swimmers aren't the only ones enjoying the surf: Jellyfish are showing up in droves.

"We were here a few weeks ago and there were a lot of jellyfish. We didn't even go in the water. It was horrible," one teen told CBS News correspondent Susan Koeppen.

And with thousands being stung by jellyfish this summer, lifeguards at Long Beach are armed with spray bottles filled with alcohol and water to take away the pain, says Koeppen.

"We didn't get these a lot years ago," says Chief Lifeguard Paul Gillespie, "but now they're, we're getting, the frequency of them a lot more. ... We've had some of them that were just (so) tremendous that we have to come and pick off the beach."

It's not just beaches seeing a problem, Koeppen points out. "During the recent New York City triathlon, thousands of competitors were stung by jellyfish in the Hudson River.

Experts say the jellyfish explosion is of global concern.

Tourism is hurting in the Mediterranean, where jellyfish seem to have taken over the waters.

"I think the level of jellyfish that we are seeing, and the fact that they outnumber the fish that we want to eat, is unprecedented," observes Margo Stiles, a marine scientist for Oceana, an organization dedicated to, as its Web site puts it, "protecting the world's oceans."

Marine biologists blame the overabundance of jellyfish on several factors, including global warming, the over-fishing of their predators, such as tuna, and pollution -- such as runoff from lawn fertilizer.

Scientists say the number of jellyfish will probably dwindle come fall but, for now, they're putting a sting in some summer fun. And the scientists predict a return of jellyfish next summer, perhaps even more of them.

[rf35]

This isn''t new to folks who live near the warmer beaches. The thing is, natural global warming is not the biggest factor here. Overpopulation of the Earth resulting in an increased demand for food, including seafood, is at the root of this. Eat that which eats the jellyfish and you wind up with more jellyfish. Doesn''t seem like a hard concept to wrap one''s head around (unless one is a Neocon Republican). Overpopulation also results in the increase of the pollution that is tied into this. If people would stop having multiple kids, this problem would go away within a couple generations. One would think an intelligent species would practice responsible reproduction. We may soon see just how intelligent humans are.

[tksk53]

Just came back from California. (San Francisco)
The Jelly Fish are so thick there that no matter where you look in the bay you see them. The beaches were empty.

[rf35]

aardbear, I''m saying that the finger points to everyone who had more than two surviving children in the last 50 years.

I certainly hope that comment wasn''t directed at me. I am NOT a liberal by any stretch of the imagination. Global warming is not caused by man, as Gore would have us believe; it is occurring and the causes are purely natural. It would be happening if man was here or not.
If the comment wasn%u2019t directed at me, then please disregard and accept my apology if I offended you.

[gohan31]

Let''s make tangy jello!!!

[dagrandma]

Call Sponge Bob. He may need some of them at the Crusty Crab.

[wineberry]

Humans never like to take the blame for anything, and while we are most likely not entirely to blame for global warming, for it is natural to a certain degree, we are adding to it though. One way is through all the autos, cutting down major forests, factory output, increased carbon dioxide in the air, it all adds up. I saw a documentary about the increased number of jellyfish which they said were taking over the oceans at unprecedented numbers, and that part of the problem was the pollution in the oceans were creating perfect breeding grounds for these things to explode in number. I used to go to the Texas Coast near Corpus Christi, and there were always some jellyfish and man-o-wars n the beach especially in the Spring, but I imagine there are more there now too. Haven''t been there in years, but it''s ashame for people who love to go to the beach.

[thrashapanda]

"Humans never like to take the blame for anything"

-unlike the shamefaced grunion, who willingly assumes guilt for all, I suppose?

[thrashapanda]

"Humans never like to take the blame for anything"

-unlike the shamefaced grunion, who willingly assumes guilt for all, I suppose?

[thrashapanda]

"The Publish button will be enabled shortly. We have temporarily disabled it so everyone has an opportunity to comment."

-that''s kinda like, "We''ll amputate everyone''s hands to avoid a glove shortage".

Huh?

[jeffjoltz]

No Wineberry, it''s not us causing global warming, it''s, it''s the jelly fish. Maybe a bunch of global warming brainiac nuts can get together and lift Al Gore''s over-sized gas-guzzling speed boat from his lakefront retreat and carry it to the nearest body of salt water where he can whizz around grinding up jelly fish in his prop.

[HappyJoyful]

Whineberry, humans can at least take the blame for this: coming up with an education system that has allowed people who ''think'' like you do, i.e. without reason or rationality, to believe they should be taken seriously.

[Htos1]

Ok,man is doing it.Did''ja know,white westerners have the LOWEST birthrates amongst all races and creeds.Do the math.Oh nand before you squirt about the energy use,we produce MORE(for the rest of the world) that all others combined-that''s how that works.

[legendzero1]

"You global warming deniers: I wish you could be identified. That way, when the sh*t hits the fan, you would run the risk of being lynched by your own children."

Step back and look at what you just wrote. It''s your grandchildren who will wish to "lynch" you when they realize you and your ilk are the reason they are leaving in mud huts with a life expectancy of 38, and an infant mortality rate of 1/2. An ocean dwelling species is thriving. That''s not okay with you because they''re not cute and fuzzy? Only the Caribou are important. Lead by example, I notice your using a computer constructed of 70% plastic( a by-product of oil), using electricity(most likely in air-conditioning), you most likely own a car. I label you a hypocrite.

[humanitarian-2009]

Global warming is a hoax. Pseudo-science behind this absurd ''theory'' is being disproved on a daily basis.
The idiots who believe this can not be helped.
They are beyond reason and must simply be discarded before they cost us more money and waste more of our time.

[truckinmann]

I thought everyone knew by now that all the problems that currently exist in the world are because of Global warming! Some folks will actually believe that ludicrous statement, which shows what a sad state our educationsystem is in. (sorry, I forgot, our education system is in turmoil because of Global warming) The reason the jellyfish are so prevalent is because the predators that feed on them are in decline. Save the planet, eat a jellyfish!

[surfsup12]

I used Jellyfish Squish last time I was stung and it worked 10x better than anything the lifeguards ever had. Look it up well worth it!

[surfsup12]

I used Jellyfish Squish last time I was stung and it worked 10x better than anything the lifeguards ever had. Look it up well worth it!

[gull43]

Try to find Margo Stiles on the "Oceana" website. What a joke this story is. Shame on CBS. As a lifeguard for too many years ,one knows that every so often going back to 1956, jellyfish,starfish,sea lice,biting crabs, etc. Come and go with each passing summer here on the East coast. Love it all. Enjoy the surf and above all don''t listen to the global warming fools who would have you think this is the first time anything like this has ever happened before and the sky is falling. Again, who is and can anyone find Margo Stiles ????

[gull43]

Margo Stiles???? Try to find her on the Oceana website . What a joke this global warming *** is.

[rekrapt4]

I, for one, welcome our new jellyfish overlords.

[ubrew12]

I''m not kidding. I would like you Global Warming deniers to sign a petition or something, formally stating your denial of this threat. I will likewise sign a petition stating my belief in the severity of this threat. That way, whichever way it goes, our future decendents will know who to tax to death to pay for our stupidity.

Its time to put up or shut up. I''ll put up with the science. You put up with your egos. And we''ll see who pays in the end.

[negativelife]

http://www.oceana.org/north-america/who-we-are/staff-directory/north-america/?tx_staffdirectory_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=109&cHash=9ed2b18d01

[jctripp-2009]

Jellyfish are the canaries of the sea, one of the most primitives creatures but *** can they seize on an opportunity. Now that we''ve cleaned the oceans of fish and created immense flows of our waste into them they are on a *** feeding frenzy! Imagine if McDonalds was giving away free burgers 24-7, it''d be kinda like that. Yes, we are responsible for this situation, you put a few hundred million living and s*ithing humans on the coast and that''s what happens. According to Claudia Mills of the University of Washington, the frequency of jellyfish blooms may be attributed to humans'' impact on marine systems. She says that the breeding jellyfish may merely be filling ecological niches formerly occupied by overfished creatures. Jellyfish researcher Marsh Youngbluth further clarifies that "jellyfish feed on the same kinds of prey as adult and young fishes, so if fish are removed from the equation, jellyfish are likely to move in." So, there you go folks. No it''s not global warming, it''s global jelly fishing!

Aurelia aurita, commonly known as moon jellyfish.

Increased nutrients in the water, ascribed to agricultural runoff, have also been cited as an antecedent to the proliferation of jellyfish.

[jctripp-2009]

Jellyfish are the canaries of the sea, one of the most primitives creatures but *** can they seize on an opportunity. Now that we''ve cleaned the oceans of fish and created immense flows of our waste into them they are on a *** feeding frenzy! Imagine if McDonalds was giving away free burgers 24-7, it''d be kinda like that. Yes, we are responsible for this situation, you put a few hundred million living and s*ithing humans on the coast and that''s what happens. According to Claudia Mills of the University of Washington, the frequency of jellyfish blooms may be attributed to humans'' impact on marine systems. She says that the breeding jellyfish may merely be filling ecological niches formerly occupied by overfished creatures. Jellyfish researcher Marsh Youngbluth further clarifies that "jellyfish feed on the same kinds of prey as adult and young fishes, so if fish are removed from the equation, jellyfish are likely to move in." So, there you go folks. No it''s not global warming, it''s global jelly fishing!

Aurelia aurita, commonly known as moon jellyfish.

Increased nutrients in the water, ascribed to agricultural runoff, have also been cited as an antecedent to the proliferation of jellyfish.

[aggles]

Jellyfish are God''s greatest gift to mankind...two of the greatest foods--jelly and fish--combined in one horribly painful package. It''s a metaphor for life. Long Beach should quit complaining and relish the poetic justice.

[libertarian_]

I was constipated and had trouble on the throne this morning. Damm gloBull warming!

- - Libertarian_Thinker

[ubrew12]

The Western Pacific Coast oyster fisheries are being shut down, from British Columbia to California, due to a bug thats killing them that has never been found in waters this far north.

Alaskan salmon are having their flesh turned black and putrid, by another bug that doesn''t belong in water as far north as Alaska, but is normally found in more equatorial waters.

Maybe more jellyfish is just cyclical, maybe its due to excess nutrients, maybe its global warming. Given the many other effects of global warming that are currently being identified (see: death of coral reefs everywhere), I would vote on warming. Although, God knows, nutrients is responsible for the growing ''dead zones'' off Oregon and Louisiana.

[ubrew12]

Lib vs Con Solutions to Global Warming

Lib Solutions:
1. Plant more trees (deforestation over the last 100 years is probably responsible for half of the effect of Global Warming). Use the wood for construction rather than fuel.
2. Increase gas mileage standards by 5-10mpg.
3. For electrical power: go 30% coal/oil/gas, 30% nuclear, 40% alternatives. (Versus current usage 72% coal/oil/gas, 20% nuclear, 8% alternatives). (There''s enough power in ocean waves in 100 miles of California coastline to power all of California, indefinitely, using technology ALREADY designed and built and functioning in Hawaii and Europe for 3-5 cents/kWhr. Never heard of it? Considering who runs this country, I''m not surprised).

Lib solutions require some ''central planning'' (also called ''looking ahead'') cuz they''ll take years to have an effect. This smacks of ''socialism'' so Cons turn away, shut the doors, and continue praying.

[ubrew12]

Con Solutions:
1. Wait until the roof is burning and half of Florida is underwater, and then place massive amounts of aerosol pollutants into the upper stratosphere using inefficient jet engines. The resultant global dimming reduces sunlight hitting the earth by 30-40%, solving Global Warming almost instantly. Agriculture goes belly up, millions of people starve to death. Millions more die of lung diseases like emphysema and cancer. As Cons would say, ''Acceptable Losses''.

Typical Con solution: wait til the scratch gets infected, then cut off the arm.

The punch line? Cons say Libs want to ''ruin the economy''!! Shakespeare himself couldn''t write such comedy.

[jctripp-2009]

It is beyond my comprehension to think there are people out there that position the FACT of global climate change as some sort of liberal conspiracy. Holy muther of Jesus batman, who put the acid in the water supply? People, get over the politics!! Did you even form this opinion on your own or was it spoon fed to you by Rush, FoxNews, Drudge, etc. And, I wonder what their motivation is? To inform you? I mean, come on, the head of NASA the agency has said repeatedly that we are on a doomed course if we don''t change our ways. Why the heck would he say this? To make money? Come on!!!! Exxon just had it''s MOST PROFITABLE quarter EVER!! And you think they don''t have an interest in convincing you that it''s all a big hoax? I''m ready to scream, I am so tired of people buying this *** about it being a big "conspiracy". Jesus help us! Just look around, the weater is a manic-depressive freak show! We''ve got droughts, fires, dead zones, ozones holes, rising seas, dead seas, melting glaciers, melting everything. It''d be funny if it weren''t so *** tragic. It''s like our creator is doing everything he/she can to get our attention and we are just ignoriing it. I really wish, pray, hope that the people of this country get a clue and make the change happen. Our leaders, well they are not leading. People, I am not a liberal nor a conservative. Nor are you! We are humans, we are Americans, we are citizens of this tiny little planet. And we have GOT TO WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aggles]

jctripp:

As opposed to you...who worked your theory of global warming out all by your lonesome.

But you''re totally right, all we have to do is look around and see all the droughts, fires, storms, ice-melt around us and wish, oh wish, that we could build some sort of time-reversing phone and call our ancestors to say, "For the love of God, just stop looking at all the droughts, fires, storms, and ice-melt threatening and understand that the trajectory you''re creating leads to droughts, firest, storms, and ice melt! Please, for the sake of all of us, kill yourself!!!"

[ubrew12]

jctripp said: "It is beyond my comprehension to think there are people out there that position the FACT of global climate change as some sort of liberal conspiracy."

As I say: its time for names to be taken. Someone needs to create a website where both pro-warming and anti-warming can sign up and put their money down for or against this potentiality. Some criteria would be defined whereby that money would be spent, one way or the other, depending on the outcome. But, its too easy for ''so-called'' independents to burnish their ''independent-thinker'' street-cred on these pages in full anonymity, by denying global warming exists at all. At this point, the lives they may be sacrificing to burnish their ego''s may be those of OUR children. And that''s NOT ok by me.

[oregongb1]

Yo, Global Warming "enthusiasts". Get over your bad selves already! Check your earth history. Climate change on this scale - and FAR larger - has been going on since the planet came into existence. Would you like to blame Humans for the massive global climate warming, and cooling 400, 500, 1,000, 10,000 years ago? Long before EVIL BIG OIL came into existence? You probably would.

Now who''s fallen for a propaganda line? Check the mirror folks. Algore and company are laughing all the way to the bank.

By the by - Exxon made $11 billion last quarter - and PAID THE US GOVERNMENT $33 billion in taxes. And there is something terribly EVIL about that? Let''s see...they pay US (the Government) $3 and we allow them to keep $1. Oh, and that''s not counting all the taxes paid locally (extraction, state, etc.) nor all the income and payroll taxes paid by their employees.

Buy or borrow a clue as Lord knows you don''t have the money to buy one. If you''ve got a problem with Big Oil making money, you''ve got a problem with every single industry making a profit, as the energy sector has the 3rd LOWEST profit margin of the 10 sectors that make up the S&P 500 index. You also have a problem with the Government making money off of Big Oil, which is something your beloved Leftist pols never mention. For every gallon of gasoline at today''s prices Big Oil nets about 9 cents. Government nets about 55 cents. How about a WINDFALL PROFITS tax on BIG GOVERNMENT?!?!

[ubrew12]

oregongb1 said: "Yo, Global Warming "enthusiasts".... Check your earth history.... Exxon made $11 billion last quarter - and PAID THE US GOVERNMENT $33 billion in taxes."

Why is Exxon advertising right now on the TV about all the research they''re doing to solve Global Warming? I guess they''ve been hoodwinked by the evil Al also.

Check out http://www.motherjones.com/news/featurex/2005/05/exxon_chart.html
for example of what they funded BEFORE they had their change of heart about Global Warming (and probably still do).

I checked my earth history, and found a time when earth didn''t even EXIST. Clearly, this calls into question our very existence!!! Someone needs to alert the ''existential'' society! LOL.

If I told you, you were about to be hit by a tidal wave, you''d tell me that the tides been rising all morning.

Good luck with that, I''m heading for the hills.

[brendon_carr]

rf35 -- "If people would stop having multiple kids, this problem would go away within a couple generations. One would think an intelligent species would practice responsible reproduction. We may soon see just how intelligent humans are."

This is a favorite refrain of the left: Stop having babies, you irresponsible consumers! But in fact, the developed world (US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea) has ALREADY stopped having babies, and human populations in the cultures where life is generally peaceful, prosperous, and NOT hellish appear doomed to inexorable population decline, and general aging of the population.

But there''s good news! An aging, shrinking population is less able to defend its society against the influx of young newcomers.

Hey, just like the jellyfish!

[brendon_carr]

rf35 -- "If people would stop having multiple kids, this problem would go away within a couple generations. One would think an intelligent species would practice responsible reproduction. We may soon see just how intelligent humans are."

This is a favorite refrain of the left: Stop having babies, you irresponsible consumers! But in fact, the developed world (US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea) has ALREADY stopped having babies, and human populations in the cultures where life is generally peaceful, prosperous, and NOT hellish appear doomed to inexorable population decline, and general aging of the population.

But there''s good news! An aging, shrinking population is less able to defend its society against the influx of young newcomers.

Hey, just like the jellyfish!

[barbaraf4]

I suggest that one of the major contributors to global warming are the billions of Pampers and Huggies that are fermenting in the landfills. They must have a half-life of about a zillion years.

[edintex]

The jellyfish problem MUST SOMEHOW be Bushs fault!

[l8c6]

The jellyfish problem MUST SOMEHOW be Bushs fault!

Posted by edintex

No, the more jellyfish in the water the more pollution. The pollutants are from your fat a*zz pumping out rancid transfatty acids all day long into the ecosystem originating from the wide profit margin corporate fast food diet you ingest between fa*rts.

[l8c6]

oregongb1

We could have another super volcano such as Lake Toba in Indonesia strike but in the mean time, we have to do the best we can and we haven''t been. There is too much scientific evidence. Besides, the U.S. needs to bring industry back into this country. The information economy isn''t cutting it. Green technology has the potential to boost the economy as well as improve the quality of life if it''s not too late. Some real and disturbing things are happening on the planet even if it seemed like a nice day to you.

[l8c6]

By the by - Exxon made $11 billion last quarter - and PAID THE US GOVERNMENT $33 billion in taxes. And there is something terribly EVIL about that? --oregongb1


Doesn''t that sound like a bunch of horsesh*it? Yeah, it does. I''m amazed Exxon Mobile isn''t out of business by now. How do they pay their top good ol''boys 100s of millions in annual perks at that rate?

[baborn-2009]

..."
Scientists say the number of jellyfish will probably dwindle (in the North East) come fall"...
And I predict that global warming will probably dwindle (in the North East) also come Fall ... ergo it''s the jellyfish causing global warming!!!

[tommyshann-2009]

I grew up 50 years ago on LI Sound and jelly fish were all over like crazy. Then they almost vanished. The water today is much cleaner than it was then.

Give global warming a rest, it is just the way jelly fish are. Weird.

[tommyshann-2009]

Global Warming is causing the jelly fish explosion. I am sure they heard about it on CBS, so they went out and had endless *** so they could be stylish.

[andrew_693]

Global warming has nothing to do with clean water you moron. It has to do with polluting and destroying a layer that protects us from the ozone, this happens because cars, factories and other polluting agents release particles in the air that destroy the ozone layer. As this layer disappears , the ice caps melt and the sea level rises, creating all kinds of different phenomena, this doesn''t mean that you will notice the effects all the sudden, it is happening gradually. Unusual weather meaning, you get snowed at the end of april like it happened in texas or the artic half way melted already and probably will be gone soon. It could also mean, more droughts, more floods, more violent storms, etc....they are already thinking that they might have to add another category for hurricanes in case this happens as it is expected in the future. Even stupid Bush admitted there is a problem, just like the war in iraq.

[luke65wky]

"Global warming has nothing to do with clean water you moron. It has to do with polluting and destroying a layer that protects us from the ozone, this happens because cars, factories and other polluting agents release particles in the air that destroy the ozone layer."

No, climate change (nobody in science calls it global warming any more) is alleged to be caused by gases that trap the heat in the atmosphere, not by gases that impact the ozone.

As for increased hurricanes, what about the many years of predicted increased hurricanes that did not happen?

Some of the climate change models are reasonable, but it is interesting that uneducated fools like you attribute every little burp on Earth to climate change. "The sky is falling in! The sky is falling in!

That is what is disturbing to most rational people: the ravings of the climate change cargo cult like you. Do you stand on the corner with a big sign saying "The End Is Near" ?

[sunshine_25]

global warning has been going on for many years the earth goes through changes. The earth will take care of itself. We on the other hand are in trouble. The earth goes through many changes I don''t think jelly fish sre a problem they will come and go. Not really from the earth warming up. If you want to learn something interesting about the earth check out what sceince have learn about volcanos in S.America. They have learn more answers about the earth that will flip your mind. It also tells us the earth has done this before.

[emc2jc]

Killing off Coyotes, Foxes, Wolves, etc. increases mouse, vole, rabbit, etc. populations. SHAZAM!

Global Warming for 1000 Alex.

The Convinent Truth

A means for the communist of the world to eventually tax and control people on a global scale by brainwashing weak minded adults and children.

Global Warming for 500 Alex.

Mars

Another GLOBE that according to data collected by NASA, follows the same temperature pattern cycles as the planet Earth due to it''s orbit around the same star.

People don''t need some goofy trumped up global control bull to realize that pollution is bad.

OH and here ya go dunderheads:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=nasa+mars earth temp&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=17977

Research for your self. Use you own mind. Don''t be a lemming!

[ricardo4max]

I heard that Global Warming causes hangnails and diarrhea. It may also have caused President Bush, VP Cheney and Halliburton, as well. God that Global Warming is terrible!

[downsteamjim]

Does PETA know about these lovable little animals being stranded on the beach?