An unprecedented mass attack of pink jellyfish on the beach of Hurghada was recorded by concerned tourists last Wednesday. The Egyptian publication Cairo24 told about the causes of the discharge on the coast of the coastal city on the Red Sea and whether sea creatures are dangerous.
According to Hassan al-Tayeb, founder of the Society for the Rescue and Protection of the Marine Environment of the Red Sea, the sea is rich in biological organisms. Among them are jellyfish, which are food for several marine animals. “There is no danger from the presence of these jellyfish on the beaches, they are food for several marine organisms,” the expert reassured the beachgoers and noted that some of them were washed ashore due to the attack of marine animals.
In addition, the death of pink jellyfish on the coast is a trace of man. Waste entering the sea destroys the ecosystem, coral reefs, and living organisms.
We are talking about the most common type of jellyfish in the Red Sea – Amelia aurita. This fragile creature can be recognized by its disc-like shape and pink-purple color. This species is not aggressive and does not attack people. Despite the Egyptian expert’s comment, it should be borne in mind that she also has cells (nematocysts) that secrete a poisonous substance, with the help of which she extracts food for herself – plankton and small fish.
As a rule, many jellyfish are found in Hurghada from mid-March to early May, when the sea water temperature reaches +25 ° C, and their mating season begins. At this time, jellyfish gather near the coast, where they annoy vacationers with their presence.