Purple jellyfish spotted at Corfu beaches
jellyfish
06 Jun 2022
/ 12:15
CORFU. Bathers spotted purple jellyfish at several beaches over the weekend.
Purple jellyfish were spotted at several beaches over the weekend, with bathers who had gone to take a dip in the high temperatures coming up against these small creatures with a painful sting due to their neurotoxins.
The jellyfish were seen in Halikouna, Gardeno and Issos in the southwest and Ag. Gordis Lefkimmi and Agios Georgios Argyrades in the south. They were also spotted in Agios Georgios Pagon in the north. There have been dozens of social media posts with photos over the weekend.
South Corfu Deputy Mayor Antonis Kourtesis told Enimerosi that the Municipality hadn't been contacted over the weekend by those that had seen them on the beaches.
Photo: Dora Pagiati FB - Jellyfish in Issos
"The phenomenon of purple jellyfish accompanies high temperatures and an increase in nutritious elements in the sea," the director of ISEA Protected Species in Thessaloniki Roxani Naasan Aga told Enimerosi. "There is a sharp increase in their population and then after a while it decreases again. These creatures cannot swim and are basically carried by currents. It has been observed that this phenomenon occurs every two years and over the last few years they have been seen throughout the country."
Reactions
With the matter being well-publicised over the last few days and information being available regarding how to react when coming into contact with the creatures, people have been able to react immediately and avoid serious problems. There were some, however, who trapped the jellyfish in plastic bowls and buckets and took photos of them.
"There has been an increased number of spottings in our area," environmentalist Yiannis Gasteratos told Enimerosi. "as there are sudden increases in population every year. This is linked to temperatures and they are mainly carried by currents. If the wind changes, they will disappear."
The jellyfish were seen in Halikouna, Gardeno and Issos in the southwest and Ag. Gordis Lefkimmi and Agios Georgios Argyrades in the south. They were also spotted in Agios Georgios Pagon in the north. There have been dozens of social media posts with photos over the weekend.
South Corfu Deputy Mayor Antonis Kourtesis told Enimerosi that the Municipality hadn't been contacted over the weekend by those that had seen them on the beaches.
Photo: Dora Pagiati FB - Jellyfish in Issos
"The phenomenon of purple jellyfish accompanies high temperatures and an increase in nutritious elements in the sea," the director of ISEA Protected Species in Thessaloniki Roxani Naasan Aga told Enimerosi. "There is a sharp increase in their population and then after a while it decreases again. These creatures cannot swim and are basically carried by currents. It has been observed that this phenomenon occurs every two years and over the last few years they have been seen throughout the country."
Reactions
With the matter being well-publicised over the last few days and information being available regarding how to react when coming into contact with the creatures, people have been able to react immediately and avoid serious problems. There were some, however, who trapped the jellyfish in plastic bowls and buckets and took photos of them.
"There has been an increased number of spottings in our area," environmentalist Yiannis Gasteratos told Enimerosi. "as there are sudden increases in population every year. This is linked to temperatures and they are mainly carried by currents. If the wind changes, they will disappear."
