Should I be worried about Jellyfish in Upnor?

If you’ve visited Upnor’s beach along the River Medway, you might have spotted some jellyfish along the stony beach. Should these be avoided? Is Upnor Beach safe? Find out everything you need to know about the jellyfish in Upnor.

Why are there jellyfish in Upnor?

Whenever we have a hot summer, the increased water temperatures means more marine life, including jellyfish. This also means you’ll have a much greater chance of seeing a jellyfish in the area, especially when the tides come in.

These jellyfish will simply wash-up on Upnor’s beach during the summer months. It’s easy to miss them because they are translucent and often blend in with the rocks and stones on the beach.

If you find any jellyfish, it’s recommend not to touch them, even if they wash up on shore. Some dead jellyfish can still cause a nasty sting.

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Where can we find jellyfish in Upnor?

Upnor’s stoney beach is a common spot for jellyfish to wash up on when it’s been a hot summer. As the River Medway gets hotter, more jellyfish can breed and grow. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from visiting Upnor’s quiet beach. It’s best to keep an eye on the stones before you set up your beach chair so you can avoid any washed-up jellies. You may also spot other sea-life, like crabs along the beach.

What kind of jellyfish are in Upnor?

We believe that the jellyfish washing up on Upnor shores are moon jellyfish. Thankfully, this type of jellyfish does not sting or cause any harm.

The moon jellyfish (or moon jelly) is the most common species in the UK and commonly wash up on the shore. This type of jelly is about the size of a dinner plate and is recognisable by four circular rings inside it’s translucent bell-shaped body.

You’ll typically see these jellies floating just below the surface of the water. Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, blood or heart.

What to do if you’re stung by a jellyfish

If you ever stung by a jellyfish, you can typically do some basic first-aid care to minimise the sting:

1. Using tweezers, carefully pluck visible tentacles out of the skin
2. Soak the skin in hot water (it should feel hot but not scalding). Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower for 20- 45 minutes.

When dealing with a jellyfish sting, here are some unhelpful or unproven actions to avoid:

• Scraping out stingers
• Rinsing with seawater
• Rinsing with human urine
• Applying meat tenderizer
• Applying alcohol, ethanol or ammonia
• Rubbing with a towel 

Typically jellyfish stings do not require medical care, but if you find that your sting is severe or you may be having an allergic reaction to it, speaking with your healthcare professional is a good option.

Thankfully, the type of jellyfish that wash up on Upnor’s beach are not dangerous, but it’s still important to avoid touching them if you can.