Dangerous Jellyfish Found In Manasquan River

The sea creature is believed to be a box jellyfish — an exotic species with a severe sting, said Paul Bologna, director of the Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences Program at Montclair State University in Montclair. Meaney's sighting, captured in Tuesday photos and video on his Facebook page — Barnegat Bay Island, NJ — created a buzz and concern about potential dangers for commercial fishermen and others who are out on or in the water this time of year. Of the 50 or so species of box jellyfish or sea wasps, only a few have venom that can kill people, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Named because of their box-like body shape, box jellyfish have tentacles covered with biological booby traps called nematocysts — tiny darts loaded with poison, according to NOAA. Meaney, 64, a retired emergency medical technician, said the jellyfish he saw swam several times to and from a channel in the Manasquan River near Gull Island. Besides the fact I didn't know what it was, I was happy that I got those pictures. State Department of Environmental Protection officials have seen Meaney's jellyfish photos "but have not been able to independently confirm" the sighting, according to DEP spokesman Larry Hajna. Peter Rowe, director of research and extension at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium on Sandy Hook, said he thinks the box jellyfish seen in the Manasquan River is a stray.

 

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