The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) reported this week that anyone spending time in the water should be on the lookout for an invasive jellyfish species and should report sightings online to help federal researchers keep tabs.
SCDNR said Australian Spotted Jellyfish can reach the size of a beach ball and can easily be identified by its spotted appearance.
The Australian Spotted Jellyfish can form “‘blooms’ that gobble up fish and shellfish eggs and damage boats and fishing gear,” SCDNR said.
A member of the public recently spotted one in Murrells Inlet, S.C. (near Myrtle Beach) and other recent sightings were made in North Carolina.