Welcome To Florida! In Tallahassee, Rick Scott; At The Beach, Men-Of-War Jellyfish: 100s Stung

Almost 500 people were stung by the jellyfish-like creatures on beaches in Fort Lauderdale on Friday and Saturday, while another 320 were stung 45 miles up the coast in Palm Beach during the weekend.

Officials said the US invasion, which numbered several thousand, had ridden in on steady 5-10mph south-easterly winds, which could continue for several more days.

Lt. Jim McCrady, a 24-year veteran officer from Fort Lauderdale's Ocean Rescue department, said: "I've never seen this many, ever".

Heather Irurzun, an ocean rescue supervisor in Delray Beach for the past 14 years, told the local press: "It's extreme. It is wall-to-wall man-of-war. I've never seen it this bad."

EDIT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8309358/Fears-for-tourists-as-Florida-invaded-by-Portuguese-Man-of-War.html

Stings from microscopic jellyfish are plaguing swimmers at popular beaches on Auckland's North Shore. A health warning has been issued for Takapuna, Cheltenham, Narrow Neck and Red Beach after reports of people developing itchy and painful red rashes after swimming. The rashes were very likely caused by microscopic jellyfish, a statement from Auckland Regional Public Health Service said. It said the jellyfish, which are too small to be seen, get caught inside togs and sting covered skin areas once the swimmer gets out of the water. Medical Officer of Health Dr Simon Baker said the problem was likely to spread throughout the Hauraki Gulf amid warm summer weather. "The only sure-fire way of avoiding this rash is not to swim at affected beaches." Tactics for minimising the risk of jellyfish stings include not wearing baggy clothes in the water, removing togs and showering after swimming, said Dr Baker. If swimmers get a rash, cool clothing and calamine lotion may help,
he said. "We know this is the time of year that people want to be at the beach. We just want people to have the information they need to make choices for their own and their families' good health." Little is known about the habits of microscopic jellyfish. Until 2008 the rash associated with their sting was thought to be caused by sea lice. However, sea lice tend to bite exposed areas of skin, whereas the jellyfish normally sting beneath togs.
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this info came from an email alert from rsoe.com

gads, now you can't even see them

So small that they're really difficult to see, and with stings so painful that even morphine doesn't help all that much.

Yuck.

(This native Miamian won't go in until it's over 75)

And Man-o-War are seasonal; it's their time of year. I know I can remember more than one year seeing washed-up blue blobs seemingly everywhere you looked.

on edit: DON'T GO BAREFOOT ON THE BEACH. You just don't know where all their tentacles are.

It's decimated the fishing industry in Japan. I watched a documentary last week on the Documentary channel about these mammoth jellys... up to 250-300 lbs and 6 feet across and there are millions of them...

The conclusion of the researchers... the increase was caused by man made influences.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5876499/Japan-hit-by-invasion-of-giant-Nomuras-jellyfish.html

"Almost 500 people were stung by the jellyfish-like creatures on beaches in Fort Lauderdale on Friday and Saturday, while another 320 were stung 45 miles up the coast in Palm Beach during the weekend.

Officials said the US invasion, which numbered several thousand, had ridden in on steady 5-10mph south-easterly winds, which could continue for several more days."

"Stings from microscopic jellyfish are plaguing swimmers at popular beaches on Auckland's North Shore. A health warning has been issued for Takapuna, Cheltenham, Narrow Neck and Red Beach after reports of people developing itchy and painful red rashes after swimming. The rashes were very likely caused by microscopic jellyfish, a statement from Auckland Regional Public Health Service said."

"It's decimated the fishing industry in Japan. I watched a documentary last week on the Documentary channel about these mammoth jellys... up to 250-300 lbs and 6 feet across and there are millions of them"

I've been reading that jellyfish blooms around the world might be connected to over fishing.

As near shore areas lose their fish populations, jellyfish come in to feed on the remaining smaller animals in the ecosystem. If its ruining the fishing industry in Japan, it could very well be a case of circular causality. i.e., the Japanese fished out most of their coastal waters. The small, remaining fishing communities are now faced with the consequences of their state's non-sustainable fishery management policies.