Unusual sight as thousands of red jellyfish wash ashore in Sabah

Residents of Kampung Jangkit, Kuala Penyu, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah were met with an extraordinary sight as thousands of red jellyfish, identified as Tomato Jellyfish or scientifically known as Lobonemoides robustus, were found stranded along a three-kilometer stretch of the shoreline on March 28th.

News reports on the mass stranding of red jellyfish highlighted the astonishment felt by locals as they witnessed this unusual phenomenon. Eyewitnesses described the beach as being engulfed in a vibrant sea of red jellyfish, sparking both concerns and curiosity among residents.

Environmental factors suspected in unprecedented incident

Director of the Sabah Fisheries Department, Azhar Kasim, provided insights into the incident, attributing it possibly to the rising sea temperatures due to the prevailing hot and dry weather conditions in Sabah. He confirmed that the Tomato Jellyfish species involved posed no venomous threat but could cause skin irritation upon contact with human skin.

Potential causes for the mass stranding were speculated to include the availability of food sources and tidal factors. “The density of jellyfish observed along the beach could be attributed to the presence of food sources such as zooplankton, small crustaceans, and juvenile fish in the area’s waters,” stated Azhar Kasim. “The incident could also be influenced by sudden changes in tides, leading to the entrapment and stranding of jellyfish on the shore.”

Azhar advised residents in the vicinity not to be overly concerned as the jellyfish species in question were known to perish quickly and disintegrate, causing only temporary discomfort with their unpleasant odor, which typically dissipates within one to two days. However, cautionary measures were issued, discouraging the public from swimming in waters abundant with jellyfish.

The Sabah Fisheries Department has dispatched personnel to monitor and investigate the unprecedented stranding of jellyfish along the coast, ensuring the safety of both marine life and beachgoers in the affected areas.