Jellyfish Sting?
I want to avoid jellyfish while swimming in Chesapeake Bay. What steps can I take?
Several different species of jellyfish inhabit Chesapeake Bay and nearby coastal waters. The most common jellyfish in the summertime Bay, and the one most responsible for stinging swimmers, is the sea nettle Chrysaora chesapeakei. Because these organisms occur within a narrow range of temperature (78 to 86°F) and salinity (brackish waters of 10 to 16 parts per thousand), VIMS scientists have been able to develop an experimental real-time computer model that predicts the likelihood that sea nettles might be found in an area based on the appearance of water masses that meet these criteria. The model uses no field data concerning sea nettle abundance or distribution, it simply shows where the water is of the appropriate temperature and salinity to support sea-nettle blooms.
Because jellyfish are planktonic animals that tend to move with tides and currents, another way to minimize the likelihood of encountering sea nettles and other jellyfish is to avoid swimming or boating along windward shorelines or where a flood tide encounters an obstacle.
Covering exposed areas may also help prevent stings. Beached jellyfish and dislodged stinging cells can continue to sting, so avoid touching any jelly-like masses you might encounter on the beach.