{"id":12881,"date":"2018-06-12T14:21:33","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T18:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shorebeat.com\/brick\/?p=12881"},"modified":"2018-06-12T14:21:33","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T18:21:33","slug":"dangerous-jellyfish-found-in-metedeconk-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shorebeat.com\/brick\/2018\/06\/dangerous-jellyfish-found-in-metedeconk-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Dangerous Jellyfish Found in Metedeconk River"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Clinging<\/a>

Clinging jellyfish. (Fle Photo)<\/p><\/div>\n

State officials warned Tuesday that a tiny jellyfish that can pack a dangerous and painful sting has been found in the Metedeconk River in Brick.<\/p>\n

The clinging jellyfish, a dime-sized invasive species, was found in the river off a private dock, the Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement released Tuesday. Researchers found 15 of the jellyfish near the dock in question and, in turn, issued a \u201crecreational use advisory\u201d to the river.<\/p>\n

Clinging jellyfish have been previously found in the Manasquan River near the mouth of the Point Pleasant Canal, as well as in the Shrewsbury River in Monmouth County. A fisherman found one in Barnegat Bay two years ago. This is the first time the species has been found in the Metedeconk, which empties into the bay.<\/p>\n

The clinging jellyfish, a native to the Pacific Ocean, is small and very difficult to spot in the water, officials said. A sting can produce severe pain and other localized symptoms and, in some cases, can result in hospitalization. The species is\u00a0not known to inhabit ocean beaches or other sandy areas, but tends to attach itself to submerged aquatic vegetation and algae in back bays and estuaries \u2013 areas that are not heavily used for swimming.<\/p>\n

Officials from the DEP are now conducting more intensive surveys of the river as well as the northern portion of the bay to see if any more of the jellyfish can be located.<\/p>\n

The clinging jellyfish ranges from the size of a dime to about the size of a quarter, according to the DEP. It has a distinctive red, orange or violet cross across its middle, but is notoriously difficult to spot in the water.<\/p>\n