Marine experts have reinforced warnings that deadly Irukandji jellyfish are moving south and could soon be on Queensland's popular Sunshine Coast beaches.

It comes after four people were hospitalised on Wednesday and Thursday from Irukandji jellyfish stings on the western side of Fraser Island.

RACQ LifeFlight Rescue said the three women and a 12-year-old girl were all in stable conditions in Hervey Bay Hospital.

Associate Professor Seymour, who is also a specialist in Irukandji with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine in Cairns, said the move south to Fraser Island, which he has confirmed with sampling, was corresponding to the rising sea temperatures.

"We've seen a 1- to 2-degree temperature rise in the water off the coast in the southern side here and the animals have moved predictably with that," he said.

"What we need to do is get a better understanding of the biology of the animal. We've got good data now that shows quite nicely that Irukandji have been spreading down the east coast of Australia, moving slowly but surely southwards," Associate Professor Seymour said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-30/irukandji-jellyfish-on-move-down-queensland-coast/8153122

For those who don't know what Irukandji jellyfish are and the effect of their sting.

Irukandji jellyfish (/ˌɪrəˈkændʒi/ IRR-ə-KAN-jee) are the smallest and most venomous box jellyfish in the world—and one of the most venomous creatures on Earth. They inhabit the marine waters of Australia and are able to fire their stingers into their victim, causing symptoms collectively known as Irukandji syndrome. Their size is roughly a cubic centimetre (1 cm3).

Induces excruciating muscle cramps in the arms and legs, severe pain in the back and kidneys, a burning sensation of the skin and face, headaches, nausea, restlessness, sweating, vomiting, an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and psychological phenomena such as the feeling of impending doom.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irukandji_jellyfish

According to BoM the water temperature has fallen over the last 3 months

http://www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDYOC059.gif?20161226002312

The water will cool again. The Irikandji wall move back North. Or die.

Turtles are endangered in Qld they are having feral pigs feast on their young and nests.

Turtles are the main predator of the Iruknadji.

The feral pigs were under control before Howard's gun laws.

Baronvonrort wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:53pm:

Turtles are endangered in Qld they are having feral pigs feast on their young and nests. Turtles are the main predator of the Iruknadji. The feral pigs were under control before Howard's gun laws.

That would affect the Iruknadji population numbers, not how much further south they are able to live.

Baronvonrort wrote on Jan 1^st, 2017 at 12:53pm:

Turtles are endangered in Qld they are having feral pigs feast on their young and nests. Turtles are the main predator of the Iruknadji. The feral pigs were under control before Howard's gun laws.

-> that's like the goannas dieing from eating cane-toads: the crocodile eggs were eaten by the goannas and now you're going to get problems with too many crocodiles because of freakin' massive cane toads getting bigger and more powerful from hopping across bloody Australia!

Hey: do crocodiles eat these things?

Popular swimming areas only need to be netted-off with Sarlon to prevent these jellyfish from getting in amongst the bathers.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 7:40am:

Popular swimming areas only need to be netted-off with Sarlon to prevent these jellyfish from getting in amongst the bathers.

The netting needs to be small enough to exclude a jelly fish no bigger that a human thumb nail. I dare say the usual oceanic flotsam will have that shredded that net within a short period of time, which is why it is not used up north.

Southerners could do what northerners have been doing for years to avoid jellyfish, sharks and crocodiles; don't go swimming in the ocean.  :)

If you do and you are stung, eaten or whatever, then so be it.

I get how southerners are used to a government willing to slaughter every living marine creature to prevent the remote possibility off a shark attack, but that doesn't happen up north.

BigOl64 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 9:23am:

Southerners could do what northerners have been doing for years to avoid jellyfish, sharks and crocodiles; don't go swimming in the ocean.  :) If you do and you are stung, eaten or whatever, then so be it. I get how southerners are used to a government willing to slaughter every living marine creature to prevent the remote possibility off a shark attack, but that doesn't happen up north.

Some good points there, however, Sarlon comes in 5 grades - from crappy to double-knit and double strength.

It also would not kill a single marine animal as is now the case with all the wide-gapped netting at some of the NSW beaches.

Incidentally, humans are no less denizens of our coastal waters than are sharks - why do you think we're hairless? It's to reduce drag.

Lord Herbert wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 11:02am:

BigOl64 wrote on Jan 11th, 2017 at 9:23am: Southerners could do what northerners have been doing for years to avoid jellyfish, sharks and crocodiles; don't go swimming in the ocean.  :) If you do and you are stung, eaten or whatever, then so be it. I get how southerners are used to a government willing to slaughter every living marine creature to prevent the remote possibility off a shark attack, but that doesn't happen up north. Some good points there, however, Sarlon comes in 5 grades - from crappy to double-knit and double strength. It also would not kill a single marine animal as is now the case with all the wide-gapped netting at some of the NSW beaches. Incidentally, humans are no less denizens of our coastal waters than are sharks - why do you think we're hairless? It's to reduce drag.

The netting needs to be extremely narrow gapped, these buggers are tiny and while it may be strong everything floating around in the water will get caught up in it.

The average irukanji is only about twice the size of this crying emoji    :'(   and that is what you'll be doing if you get hit by one. Word has it that suicide is heavily in the thoughts of victims.

Stinger suits is an option but people in the north have been stung on the face and hands while wearing them. Get used to not swimming in the ocean.  :) :)

BigOl64 wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 11:11am:

Stinger suits is an option but people in the north have been stung on the face and hands while wearing them. Get used to not swimming in the ocean.  :) :)

What is needed are designated beaches where special fast-moving trawlers keep up a netting operation just off the beaches that catch these and other little blighters.

Permanent, fixed-to-the-seabed with concrete blocks wire-netting would be the best, of course, like the old anti-submarine nets.

Any costs would be defrayed by the tourist trade up in QLD doubling and tripling.

Jeez, What ever happened to wearing pantyhose. Afraid somebody will laugh? You can stretch one on each half.

Or the always stylish  stinger suit

http://i63.tinypic.com/155tjcm.jpg

doesn't protect the face much though

This is why I have zero interest in FNQ.

Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual

Gordon wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 9:53pm:

This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual

Sydneys below Perth, so what?

The_Barnacle wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 9:09pm:

Or the always stylish  stinger suit http://i63.tinypic.com/155tjcm.jpg doesn't protect the face much though

And those wearing stinger suit usually get stung on the dial  :) :)


If all our nasties continue moving south, get used to not going in the water kids.  ;D ;D

Gordon wrote on Jan 11^th, 2017 at 9:53pm:

This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual

I always love to hear people say they don't like FNQ. And I am hopeful that those up hear who whinge about it, will go south soon. Its a different mindset, and I am not talking about the rednecks, because most of them would leave if they wouldn't stick out like bumpkins any place south of Bundaberg. I am glad we have huge crocs, taipans and stingers, they thin out the idiots.

There's nothing like a wet season sky. Its like an ever changing oil painting.

issuevoter wrote on Jan 14^th, 2017 at 5:29pm:

Gordon wrote on Jan 11th, 2017 at 9:53pm: This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual I always love to hear people say they don't like FNQ. And I am hopeful that those up hear who whinge about it, will go south soon. Its a different mindset, and I am not talking about the rednecks, because most of them would leave if they wouldn't stick out like bumpkins any place south of Bundaberg. I am glad we have huge crocs, taipans and stingers, they thin out the idiots. There's nothing like a wet season sky. Its like an ever changing oil painting.

I did about a year in FNQ, mostly Townsville, your hood?
Really enjoyed Townsville in the winter. Thing is....no surf, no big city stuff, no surf x10.

Gordon wrote on Jan 14^th, 2017 at 6:13pm:

issuevoter wrote on Jan 14th, 2017 at 5:29pm: Gordon wrote on Jan 11th, 2017 at 9:53pm: This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual I always love to hear people say they don't like FNQ. And I am hopeful that those up hear who whinge about it, will go south soon. Its a different mindset, and I am not talking about the rednecks, because most of them would leave if they wouldn't stick out like bumpkins any place south of Bundaberg. I am glad we have huge crocs, taipans and stingers, they thin out the idiots. There's nothing like a wet season sky. Its like an ever changing oil painting. I did about a year in FNQ, mostly Townsville, your hood? Really enjoyed Townsville in the winter. Thing is....no surf, no big city stuff, no surf x10.

Further north. That's a specific as I am going to get on the Internet. I'll take steamy weather and Panama rain any day, over second rate cities and suburbs and desert winds.

issuevoter wrote on Jan 14^th, 2017 at 6:16pm:

Gordon wrote on Jan 14th, 2017 at 6:13pm: issuevoter wrote on Jan 14th, 2017 at 5:29pm: Gordon wrote on Jan 11th, 2017 at 9:53pm: This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual I always love to hear people say they don't like FNQ. And I am hopeful that those up hear who whinge about it, will go south soon. Its a different mindset, and I am not talking about the rednecks, because most of them would leave if they wouldn't stick out like bumpkins any place south of Bundaberg. I am glad we have huge crocs, taipans and stingers, they thin out the idiots. There's nothing like a wet season sky. Its like an ever changing oil painting. I did about a year in FNQ, mostly Townsville, your hood? Really enjoyed Townsville in the winter. Thing is....no surf, no big city stuff, no surf x10. Further north. That's a specific as I am going to get on the Internet. I'll take steamy weather and Panama rain any day, over second rate cities and suburbs and desert winds.

I wish I spent more time around Atherton area. I met some very cool people and stayed for a few weeks. Lots of music and smoking pot, creek swims cooler than Cairns.
Suited my hippy trippy headspace way back then.

However, I need to live near a turquoise ocean that won't kill sting your face off.

issuevoter wrote on Jan 14^th, 2017 at 5:29pm:

Gordon wrote on Jan 11th, 2017 at 9:53pm: This is why I have zero interest in FNQ. Meanwhile Sydney ocean temps are unseasonably colder than usual I always love to hear people say they don't like FNQ. And I am hopeful that those up hear who whinge about it, will go south soon. Its a different mindset, and I am not talking about the rednecks, because most of them would leave if they wouldn't stick out like bumpkins any place south of Bundaberg. I am glad we have huge crocs, taipans and stingers, they thin out the idiots. There's nothing like a wet season sky. Its like an ever changing oil painting.

Lucky for us, most southerners don't get much past Noosa for their Queensland adventure. :) :) :)