An invasive jellyfish is washing up along the Texas coastline and, according to researchers, while their sting doesn't pack a big punch, they can hurt local ecosystems.
Jace Tunnell,the director of community engagement at theHarte Research Institute,said he's spotted a dozen Australian white-spotted jellyfish scattered along the Gulf Coast shoreline over the past two weeks while doing beach surveys.
Tunnell said the jellyfish are distinct due to the bright white spots on their bells and broccoli-like arms. And while some of the jellyfish can be the size of a hand, he recently saw one that had a bell that stretched to about 14 inches.
"The coolest thing about it is it can be different colors," Tunnell said. "They can have a beautiful blue tint to them. They can also be brown in color or clear. I’ve seen all those varieties just this week."
Research showsthe jellyfish is considered invasive because it preyson native species, like plankton, creating competition with other organisms that feed on plankton. They can also negatively impact the shrimp industry by clogging nets and damaging fishing equipment.
According to theUnited States Geological Survey,the presence of the Australian spotted jellyfish in the northern Gulf "had a direct economic impact on the shrimp fishery."
According to Tunnell, the jellyfish like warmer weather, so they're more likely to be found during the summer months. But they're technically not supposed to be in Gulf waters, he said.
"They're supposed to be found in the Western Pacific but through ballast, which is water that ships take in to be able to balance their ships. [The jellyfish get] sucked in with the water, probably in the Pacific, and then they get all the way over here to the Gulf and then they release the water," Tunnell said.
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Tunnell said because of the way the ocean currents work, the baby jellyfish were able to get into Gulf waterways and start growing.
"That happened in the early 2000s when they were first reported over here," Tunnell said. "Now that they’re here, they’re probably not going anywhere."
While Tunnell surveys beaches southwest of Galveston, he said he thinks the jellyfish are present on the island as well.
"They're showing up up and down the coast because of the way our ocean currents work," Tunnell said, "it’s absolutely possible that they’d be washing up in Galveston."
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Tunnell said while the sting of the Australian spotted jellyfish is mild, it's best to play it safe when it comes to touching them.
"If you’re not 100% sure, just take photos, look at it and then just leave it alone," Tunnell said.
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