An invasive jellyfish species native to the Pacific Ocean is increasingly washing ashore along the Texas coastline, raising concerns among marine researchers about potential impacts on Gulf ecosystems and the state's shrimp industry.
Researchers have reported sightings of Australian white-spotted jellyfish scattered along beaches from South Texas to the upper coast recently as warmer Gulf waters create favorable conditions for the species.
Jace Tunnell, director of community engagement at the Harte Research Institute, said he encountered about a dozen of the jellyfish during beach surveys over the past two weeks.
You can easily identify the species by the bright white spots covering its bell and its distinctive broccoli-shaped oral arms. Tunnell said the jellyfish vary in appearance and can reach impressive sizes.
"The coolest thing" about the species is its color variation, Tunnell said, noting that the jellyfish can appear blue, brown, or nearly transparent.
While some specimens are only the size of a person's hand, Tunnell recently observed one with a bell measuring roughly 14 inches across.
Marine scientists classify the Australian white-spotted jellyfish as an invasive species because it competes with native marine life for food resources. The jellyfish feed heavily on plankton, reducing food availability for fish and other organisms that rely on the same food source.
Researchers have also documented economic impacts on Gulf fisheries.
According to the United States Geological Survey, populations of Australian spotted jellyfish in the northern Gulf of Mexico have had a "direct economic impact" on shrimp fisheries by clogging nets and damaging fishing equipment. Tunnell said the species is native to the western Pacific Ocean and likely arrived in Gulf waters through ballast water discharged from international cargo ships.
The jellyfish were first documented in Gulf waters in the early 2000s after juvenile jellyfish were transported across oceans and established breeding populations. "Now that they're here," Tunnell said, "they're probably not going anywhere."
Although Tunnell conducts most of his surveys southwest of Galveston, he believes the jellyfish are likely appearing throughout much of the Texas coastline because of prevailing Gulf currents. "They're showing up up and down the coast," he said, making sightings in the Galveston area increasingly likely.
Researchers emphasize that the jellyfish's sting is generally mild and medically insignificant for most people. Still, experts recommend avoiding direct contact with unfamiliar marine life. "If you're not 100% sure," Tunnell advised, "just leave it alone."
Scientists expect sightings of the species to continue through the summer as Gulf water temperatures remain elevated and coastal currents carry jellyfish toward Texas beaches.
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