Stinging False Jellyfish Found on Fuerteventura Coastline
Recent storms have washed ashore the dreaded Portuguese Man o’ War or Physalia physalis from the Atlantic Ocean to the coastline of Fuerteventura.
Physalia Physalis, also known as ‘false jellyfish’, is an organism that produces very painful stings, so caution is recommended when swimming in the sea.
This organism is a marine hydrozoan of the family Physalidae often found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. These have long tentacles that can deliver a painful sting, and this is strong enough to kill fish, but has only rarely been known to kill humans.
None of the news stories I have read says where on the island they have been found. Does anyone know? I think it is highly unlikely they have been swept upon all beaches north, south, east and west?
17-03-2019, 05:48 PM (This post was last modified: 17-03-2019, 05:53 PM by MB30.)
It makes me wonder why people post such “news” stories but fail to give any info regarding any beaches affected.
Had a good swim today at Las Playitas, nothing in the water other than beautiful fish.
Water temp was lovely.
And will happily continue to swim around the island until a lifeguard or flags, tell me not too.
They usually wash up on the beach at high Tides so pretty easy to spot any problems lurking in the water.
I always am aware of such problems, having lived in Australia, but only once have I seen a jellyfish invasion in Fuerte.
Through a statement sent to this media, the city council alerts citizens about the presence and concentration of the 'Portuguese caravel', an extremely toxic jellyfish specimen, on some of the beaches of Puerto del Rosario such as Puerto Lajas and Playa Blanca. The company awarded the rescue and lifeguard service, Emerlan, informed the Department of Beaches about the presence of these specimens in our municipality, which had been dragged by the sea currents and by the strong winds of these days, in order to take measures on the matter, raising the red flag to avoid bathing on these beaches. Therefore, the mayor of the Porto City Council, Juan Jiménez, and the Councilor for Beaches, Sonia Álamo, on behalf of the City Council, ask the citizens and users of these beaches to "take extreme precautions, do not touch the jellyfish and avoid bathing on these beaches where they have been located to avoid deadly bites", since "the 'Portuguese caravel' has much more venom than the usual jellyfish stings and can become very dangerous."
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New sightings of Carabela Portuguesa in the north of the island. After the storms of sea and wind of the last days, this organism that usually floats on the high seas is dragged to the coasts of the island producing more than one scare.
In winter it is normal for them to reach our coasts since they do not have the capacity to swim, they are floating and are dragged by currents and winds when there are large storms, since they do not have the capacity to counteract these phenomena.
The Portuguese caravel has the appearance of a jellyfish, but in reality it is a colonial organism whose individuals specialize to keep the colony alive. A gelatinous sail of between 15 and 30 centimeters allows it to travel the oceans driven by winds, Tides and sea currents, while from the central body hang a large number of tentacles that serve to catch prey.
In this sense, the appearance of specimens of Portuguese caravel in Canarian waters is common at this time of year. As we say, they are not jellyfish, they are what are called siphonophores organisms: a violet pouch that floats on the surface of the sea, and below stinging tentacles that can measure several meters in length. Several organisms in union that complement each other for survival.
The poison is secreted spontaneously and although it is not considered fatal, it can affect young children and allergic people, causing cardiac arrest. Other more common symptoms are vomiting, fever, nausea and severe pain in the area of the bite. A lot of caution is recommended, stay away in the sea and do not touch them if they are stranded on the coast.
If it itches, the first thing you should do is act to remove the poison by removing the remains of the tentacles from the skin. You can then try washing the area with alcohol or salt water. Never use fresh water because it intensifies the effects.
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Caution with the return of the Portuguese caravel.
The dangerous Physalia physalis has been seen on the north and south coasts of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
As every year at this time, with the great winter Tides, the Portuguese man-of-war specimens found in the open sea are washed to the coasts of the islands, especially to the beaches of the two easternmost islands.
In this way, specimens of Portuguese caravel have been seen on the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, caution is recommended in the bath since the chafing with one of the long tentacles of this organism can make the affected person have a real bad time.
The Portuguese caravel is a colonial organism, composed of several hydroids that perform various functions within the whole. Belonging to the order of siphonophores, the venom of this organism is not considered fatal, despite the fact that it can cause serious injuries.
These organisms are floating and are dragged by currents and winds when there are large storms, since they do not have the capacity to counteract these phenomena. It floats on the surface of the sea, and below stinging tentacles that can measure several meters in length.
The venom of these organisms is secreted spontaneously and although it is not considered fatal, it can affect young children and allergic people, causing cardiac arrest. Other more common symptoms are vomiting, fever, nausea and severe pain in the area of the bite.
The appearance of Portuguese man-of-war specimens in Canarian waters is usually common when strong winds blow and there is sea in the background. They are not jellyfish but siphonophores: a purplish pouch floating on the surface of the sea, and below stinging tentacles that can measure several meters in length. Great caution is recommended in the bathroom, and if a bite occurs go to the nearest health center.
Like every year with the strong winter Tides, the dangerous Physalia physalis returns, which has already been seen on the coasts of Fuerteventura
NEWSROOMFUERTEVENTURA
Specimens of Portuguese man-of-war have been seen on the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, caution is recommended when bathing as rubbing against any of the long tentacles of this organism can give the affected person a real hard time.
In winter, strong storms attract this dangerous organism from the high seas, which do not have the ability to swim, are buoyant and let themselves be dragged by currents and winds when there are large storms, since they do not have the capacity to counteract these phenomena.
The appearance of Portuguese man-of-war specimens in Canary Islands waters is common at this time of year because they arrive dragged by the storms of the Atlantic. They are not jellyfish but siphonophores: a purplish pouch that floats on the surface of the sea, and underneath stinging tentacles that can measure several meters in length.
The venom of these organisms is secreted spontaneously and although it is not considered fatal, it can affect young children and allergy sufferers. In these cases, it can be really dangerous. The most common symptoms are vomiting, fever, nausea and intense pain in the area of the bite.
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Be very cautious if you encounter this organism on the coast of the island
The strong swell of these days brings back to the coasts of the island specimens of Portuguese man-of-war, which have been seen on the coasts of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura in recent days.
It is an organism with no ability to move and generally lives on the high seas, but the strong waves and winter swells drag them to the coasts of our island.
In this sense, caution is recommended in the bath since the rubbing with any of the long tentacles of this organism can give the affected person a real bad time.
Set of Floating Organisms
In winter, strong storms attract this dangerous organism from the high seas, which do not have the ability to swim, are buoyant and let themselves be dragged by currents and winds when there are large storms, since they do not have the capacity to counteract these phenomena.
The appearance of Portuguese man-of-war specimens in Canary Islands waters is common at this time of year because they arrive dragged by the storms of the Atlantic. They are not jellyfish but siphonophores: a purplish pouch that floats on the surface of the sea, and underneath stinging tentacles that can measure several meters in length.
The venom of these organisms is secreted spontaneously and although it is not considered fatal, it can affect young children and allergy sufferers. In these cases, it can be really dangerous. The most common symptoms are vomiting, fever, nausea and intense pain in the area of the bite.
3 users say Thank You to TamaraEnLaPlaya for this post
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