The beaches in Haifa and the Krayot, which are bustling with life every season, have recently become the focus of reports of an unexpected natural phenomenon – “migratory thread jellyfish” that are being released onto the region’s shores. According to recent reports, the jellyfish have begun appearing in a season we are not used to – instead of summer, this year they are visiting the beaches in the spring months.
What has changed?
The times when these jellyfish used to be released onto the beaches during the summer have changed, and they now arrive in early spring. Bathers can enjoy warmer, calmer waters, but the presence of the jellyfish must be taken into account. In fact, the last jellyfish are being released onto the beaches of Haifa and the Kryot, with most of them reaching an average size of about thirty centimeters, and some are even larger. This phenomenon is expected to continue in the coming years, as a result of climate change, both in Israel and around the world.
Jellyfish are not alone
It's not just the "migratory thread" jellyfish that are making their way to local shores. Other fish, such as the invasive pharmacist squid (also called "sabida"), have also entered the cycle of releases, especially in cold seasons like the current one. This squid, which belongs to the "sea snip" species, many of whose individuals are released in particularly cold winters, as it seems that the Lessepsian invaders are sensitive to fluctuations in water temperature, i.e. from a constant -22 degrees in the Gulf of Eilat to a temperature of -16 degrees or even less.
Jellyfish are not just lumps of jelly in the broad sense, jellyfish are not just useless lumps of jelly. In fact, jellyfish are living creatures with receptors that respond to a variety of conditions, such as water temperature, sea depth, and water currents. Apparently, jellyfish can communicate with each other in a swarm in a way that is not yet clear to us, which makes them move intelligently – even against the water current, as we have seen in recent years in the Haifa area.
Recommendations:
Recommendations for bathers Among the bathing and water sports public, there are several guidelines that are important to follow:
- Swimming goggles: It is a good idea to swim with goggles to prevent eye damage in the event of contact with jellyfish venom. It is important to wash the goggles after swimming to make sure that there are no remnants of its tentacles left behind.
- Avoid swimming in murky water: It is important to avoid swimming in places where the water is murky, which could lead to an unexpected encounter with a jellyfish.
- Be careful when stepping on jellyfish: When walking on the beach, there is a phenomenon that is not always talked about – stepping on jellyfish. Since jellyfish can be very slippery, this can lead to slipping and injury, which is sometimes forgotten when dealing with burn warnings.
End of winter, preparation for summer season Due to global climate change, we must prepare ourselves for additional swarms of jellyfish each year, especially in the spring. Therefore, it is worth monitoring the phenomenon and remaining vigilant when swimming or hiking on local beaches.
However, the goal is to allow bathers to maximize their enjoyment of the sea while maintaining their safety. So, enjoy the beaches, and be careful!
Our dear Moti. It's sad to hear that the terrible jellyfish are already here. We are lucky to have Othello, an amazing and dear man who warns and updates us professionally about them and all the other surprises. Thank you.
Well done, my friend Moti Mendelsohn, as always, may you be blessed. Happy and blessed Shabbat and good night.
Dear Moti, fascinating and interesting article, thank you for enriching us as a public with such important and critical information. Definitely to take precautions to reduce jellyfish injuries and burns 🙂 Best wishes
Moti, you are amazing.
I always enjoy reading your articles.
Thank you for the information.
Thank you very much, Moti. We will be careful and vigilant. We have aligned ourselves with the Houthis, we will also deal with the Houthis.
Thanks for more fresh scares about stinging, swarming predatory invaders.
We promise to continue bathing in the sea in two months without being afraid of all the weekly intimidation.
There are jellyfish all winter, that's nothing new.
Good morning Israel
There have always been jellyfish in the winter, but not in swarms like this.
Shabbat Shalom
As usual, interesting and fascinating….
Happy month, lovely article 🍎