Trenton, New Jersey — A tropical storm Isaias leaves the beaches of South New Jersey with a case of jelly fish larvae that is commonly known as ‘Sea lice.’
Environmental officials thinks that since the stinging jellyfish don’t usually appear on New Jersey beaches until the water gets warmer in late summer, the tropical storm Isaias pushed larvae up from Florida.
The sea lice are microscopic and is commonly known for causing skin rashes and irritation to swimmers in the Southern United States and the Caribbean.
“This is a direct result of problems from both climate change and stormwater runoff,” Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club said in a news release.
“The nutrients in the water came from Tropical Storm Isaias last week. As the summer continues to be hot and rainy, the invasion of sea lice could spread up and down our coast.”
The beaches of New Jersey that are most effected by the sea lice include of the beaches of Avalon and Stone Harbor.
“The South Jersey sightings show us that our problems with warming waters and nutrient runoff is increasing,” Tittel said.
Tittel also blames the state, specifically Gov. Phil Murphy and former Gov. Chris Christie, for not properly taking care of the coast and putting better precautions in place to manage septic runoff and sewer pipes.
“We must work to retrofit storm basins and restore watersheds, wetlands and stress, and preserve environmentally sensitive areas. Otherwise we will continue to see more problems along the Shore like sea lice,” Tittel concluded.
