Venomous ‘jellyfish’ sightings on Achill beaches

DANGEROUS STING A Portuguese Man of War sited on an Achill beach over the weekend. Pic: Achill Coast Guard

Áine Ryan

THE most northerly sightings on the island of Ireland of the venomous Portuguese Man of War ‘jellyfish’ were confirmed on Achill Island beaches over the weekend. That is according to the local Coastguard who have confirmed sightings at Keel and Keem beaches and at the Boat or Bog dock, south of Purteen Harbour since last Friday.  
The local Coastguard warned that the dangerous fish ‘have what is considered [to be] the most dangerous sting of any sea creature and are dangerous dead or alive’.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Achill Coastguard’s Officer-in-Charge, Rob Joyce said: “We received our first reports of the sightings last Friday. Mayo County Council’s environmental section is aware of the sightings and has placed signs about their dangers on the relevant beaches.
“We believe they have landed here because of a combination of the gulf stream running close to the west coast and the strong southerly winds,” Mr Joyce said.  
Portuguese Man of War have the appearance of jellyfish but technically are a number of sea animals all attached as a group. The sting is from the very long tentacles.
Local GPs have also been advised of the situation. Achill Coastguard’s Facebook page advises: “Please do not touch, keep animals away. If stung seek medical attention immediately. Considered a serious risk to people who may suffer Anaphylaxis. In an emergency dial 112.”
When contacted by The Mayo News, Larry Walsh, Acting-Head of Mayo County Council’s referred readers to its website. It details First Aid measures and states: “Water users and the general public are advised that the Portuguese Man O’ War jellyfish has recently been sited at Keel and Keem Beach in recent days. There is a possibility that they may present at other beaches along Mayo’s coastline. The public are advised that the jellyfish can be present on the shore and in the water. These jellyfish can inflict severe stings. Therefore contact should be avoided.”
During July last swimmers on the south east coast were warned about sightings of the ‘highly venomous’ jellyfish.
Mr John Leech of Irish Water Safety told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland at the time that  they had received a report of a Portuguese Man of War jellyfish on Carne beach in Wexford. He noted that it was ‘even more venomous than the Lion’s Mane jellyfish’, which has also been sighted in Irish waters.

Jellyfish facts
The Atlantic Portuguese Man of War (Physalia physalis), is also known as the man-of-war blue bottle, or floating terror. It is a marine hydrozoan of the family Physaliidae found in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its venomous tentacles can deliver a painful, and sometimes fatal, sting. Despite its outward appearance,  it is not a jellyfish but a siphonophore, which, unlike jellyfish, is not actually a single multicellular organism, but a colonial organism made up of specialised individual animals called zooids or polyps.