MOBILE, Ala. — Jellyfish the size of dinner plates are clustering around the barrier islands of Alabama and Mississippi.
The Mobile Press-Register reports the jellyfish are so thick in Orange Beach that they look like stepping stones on the water.
The moon jellyfish do not sting, but swimmers can feel them while bathing in the Gulf of Mexico. They range in color from pink to white and have short tentacles.
Scientists say it’s too early to know if the jellyfish population has increased in the Gulf. Wind, currents and tides likely brought the jellyfish close to shore. University of Southern Mississippi marine scientist Monty Graham says the jellyfish tend to accumulate along the edges of the shore, which helps them reproduce.
OMG...It must be global warming!!!
@tderng, actually larger and larger jellyfish is the result of overfishing...it is occurring throughout the world.
@NoMyth, We should pull these out of there and package and ship them to southeast asia where people eat them. Call it economic stimulus.
Let's go jellyfishing. Where's my net?
How does overfishing cause larger jellyfish? Not disagreeing with you just wondering how that works.
@holdout, It only works if the fish being caught are the natural predators of these jellyfish. The presence of these jellyfish should bring those fish to the alabama shorelines. Should be some good fishing there in the future.
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