BFAR warns public vs box jellyfish sightings in Albay gulf
LIGAO CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol on Saturday warned the public to avoid swimming at the Albay gulf after several box jellyfish (Cubozoa) were seen in the seawaters off the Legazpi City boulevard.
“We just want to keep them from harm’s way…18 pieces of box jellyfish were collected by the personnel from Integrated Coastal Management Resources of Legazpi City Government Office [on Wednesday],” Nonie Enolva, chief of fisheries resource management section of BFAR Bicol, told Inquirer in a phone interview on Saturday.
Enolva said the marine animals measure around two to three inches long and are bell shaped. The BFAR personnel found the jellyfish off the shores of Puro village in this city.
She said the box jellyfish can be found in the southern hemisphere of the Pacific Ocean. Their stings can cause serious and sometimes fatal symptoms in a victims within minutes.
“We can’t ascertain why there are occurences (of jellyfish congregating) particularly in Poliqui Bay and Albay gulf. Normally in areas where there are sightings of box jellyfish, it is their season or they (just tend to) aggregate,” Enolva said.
She said aside from Albay, there are also sightings in Caramoan town in neighboring Camarines Sur province which is now being verified by a team from BFAR.
“We also asked the (Legazpi) city government to put warning signs in order to caution the public and put vinegar on strategic places (in areas where people go) which can be used as first aid treatment (against the jellyfish sting),” Enolva added.
