OCEAN GATE – As the weather warms up, boaters and swimmers look forward to spending more time on the bay and rivers near their homes, but the return of warm temperatures also bring back a certain pest.
No, we’re not talking about bennies. We’re talking about the bay nettle – a jellyfish that has become accustomed to the lagoons surrounding the Barnegat Bay.
Since 2022, the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue Unit has been using a program called “Stop the Sting,” and they are inviting residents to learn how they can help control the nettle population.
The process is a simple concept, although it’s labor-intensive. Divers scrub docks and other objects that have been sitting out in the water. The polyp form of the bay nettle attaches to inanimate objects like these. Therefore, scrubbing the items disrupts the life cycle and results in fewer adult jellies the following season.
The polyps are too small to see with the naked eye. In order to be sure to clean them off, they have to be washed off with a high-pressure water hose or the dock has to be scrubbed manually.
A review of data collected showed promising results. Areas where they cleaned showed fewer adults.
However, in order to clean the docks and bulkheads, they need permission from the property owners. This means that there is a public education campaign underway to tell shore residents how important this work is.
There will be a “Stop the Sting at the Ocean Gate Boardwalk” at East Riviera Avenue, Ocean Gate. On May 3 from 10 a.m. until midday, there will be demonstrations of jellyfish abatement scrubbing techniques. On May 4 from 9 a.m. until dusk, there will be scrubbing at the Ocean Gate Yacht Club, Pier 1, Beach Prisms, and Pier 2.
Additionally, the dive team can schedule a discussion with any group that has an interest in adapting the jellyfish abatement program to meet their community needs.
For information, visit BerkeleyDiveTeam.com or facebook.com/BTUSARsquad86
