An unprecedented mass attack of pink jellyfish on the beaches of Hurghada was recorded by worried tourists last Wednesday. The reasons for the release on the coast of a coastal city on the Red Sea and whether sea creatures are dangerous were described by the Egyptian publication Cairo24.
According to the founder of the Red Sea Marine Environment Society Hassan al-Tayeb, the sea is rich in biological organisms. Among them are jellyfish, which are food for a number of marine animals. “There is no danger from the presence of these jellyfish on the beaches, they are food for a number of marine organisms,” the expert reassured beachgoers and noted that some of them were washed ashore due to the attack of marine animals.
In addition, there is a human trace in the death of pink jellyfish on the coast. Waste entering the sea destroys the ecosystem, coral reefs and living organisms.
Note that we are talking about the most common species of jellyfish in the Red Sea – Amelia aurita. This fragile creature can be recognized by its disc shape and pink-purple color. This species is not aggressive and does not attack humans. Despite the Egyptian expert's comment, it should be borne in mind that she also has stinging cells (nematocysts) that secrete a toxic substance, with the help of which she gets her own food – plankton and small fish.
As a rule, in a large number of jellyfish are found in Hurghada from mid-March to early May, when the sea water temperature reaches + 25 ° C, and they begin the mating season. At this time, jellyfish gather along the coast, where they annoy vacationers with their presence.
For those who care about a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “A microbiologist explained how food poisoning occurs.”