SCDNR says Australian spotted jellyfish recently sighted in Murrells Inlet
by Julia Varnier
Thursday, November 5th 2020
https://wpde.com/news/local/scdnr-sa...s-inlet-watersGEORGETOWN Co., S.C. (WPDE) — The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says that some squishy critters are visiting local waters.
On Wednesday, the department announced in a Facebook post that the Australian spotted jellyfish has been introduced 'far and wide beyond its original range in the Pacific.'
The post furthers that these jellies can form large ‘blooms’ that eat up fish and shellfish eggs and damage boats and fishing gear.
Australian spotted jellies are occasionally sighted along the Atlantic Coast, including a bloom in the Broad River in 2017.
Recently, someone reported to the department that they saw one in Murrells Inlet, and other recent sightings have been made in North Carolina.
If you spend time on the water, keep an eye out for this species. Officials say the jellyfish can reach about the size of a beach ball and are easily identifiable from its spotted appearance.
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