Post by LSDeep on Nov 30, 2005 8:28:42 GMT -5
By Ian Gerard
30nov05
QUEENSLAND scientists have discovered a new species of potentially fatal box jellyfish that invades the outer regions of the Great Barrier Reef near areas of coral popular with divers and snorkellers.
Unlike the types of box jellyfish found near coastal areas during summer, the new jellyfish is ocean-born and is found on outer regions of the reef about 10 days after each full moon.
It had previously been thought that tourists could enjoy the outer reef without having to worry about box jellyfish. The discovery of the new species means that divers, snorkellers and fishermen will have to monitor the threat.
Box jellyfish inhabit waters from Exmouth in Western Australia to Gladstone in Queensland between November and May and are thought to be the world's deadliest creature.
While box jellyfish have killed 70 people in the waters off northern Australia, stings on the outer reef have been rare.
But the new species of jellyfish is thought to be responsible for stinging a 27-year-old snorkeller on the face on Saturday at Ribbon Reefs, east of Cooktown in the state's far north.
The man was rushed to hospital suffering irukandji syndrome - a painful condition in which the victim suffers backache, muscle pains, chest and abdominal pains, headache, nausea, vomiting and restlessness, together with localised sweating, a high heart rate and high blood pressure.
There is no anti-venom.
James Cook University Cairns jellyfish expert Jamie Seymour said he would now collect and test the venom of the new jellyfish to improve treatment strategies for victims.
Dr Seymour said the new species of jellyfish, which has also been found in Hawaii, should not affect most tourist boat visits to the reef.
"It's not a major threat to tourism because most tourist boats don't go out there," he said. "If you change the way you operate, people won't get stung."
The jellyfish can grow to 80cm while its tentacles can reach up to 1.5m in length.
Andy Dunstan is the manager and research co-ordinator of Undersea Explorer, a tourism company based in Port Douglas that combines diving with scientific research on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Dunstan said the discovery of the new species would lead to diving expeditions in which tourists could observe the deadly marine creature in its own habitat.
He said he expected that tourists would want to see the box jellyfish, just as they are interested in seeing crocodiles and sharks in the wild.
"It's actually safer here, because we know how to deal with it, we know when these things come out," he said. "This is an added bonus."
www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17408921%255E421,00.html
30nov05
QUEENSLAND scientists have discovered a new species of potentially fatal box jellyfish that invades the outer regions of the Great Barrier Reef near areas of coral popular with divers and snorkellers.
Unlike the types of box jellyfish found near coastal areas during summer, the new jellyfish is ocean-born and is found on outer regions of the reef about 10 days after each full moon.
It had previously been thought that tourists could enjoy the outer reef without having to worry about box jellyfish. The discovery of the new species means that divers, snorkellers and fishermen will have to monitor the threat.
Box jellyfish inhabit waters from Exmouth in Western Australia to Gladstone in Queensland between November and May and are thought to be the world's deadliest creature.
While box jellyfish have killed 70 people in the waters off northern Australia, stings on the outer reef have been rare.
But the new species of jellyfish is thought to be responsible for stinging a 27-year-old snorkeller on the face on Saturday at Ribbon Reefs, east of Cooktown in the state's far north.
The man was rushed to hospital suffering irukandji syndrome - a painful condition in which the victim suffers backache, muscle pains, chest and abdominal pains, headache, nausea, vomiting and restlessness, together with localised sweating, a high heart rate and high blood pressure.
There is no anti-venom.
James Cook University Cairns jellyfish expert Jamie Seymour said he would now collect and test the venom of the new jellyfish to improve treatment strategies for victims.
Dr Seymour said the new species of jellyfish, which has also been found in Hawaii, should not affect most tourist boat visits to the reef.
"It's not a major threat to tourism because most tourist boats don't go out there," he said. "If you change the way you operate, people won't get stung."
The jellyfish can grow to 80cm while its tentacles can reach up to 1.5m in length.
Andy Dunstan is the manager and research co-ordinator of Undersea Explorer, a tourism company based in Port Douglas that combines diving with scientific research on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Dunstan said the discovery of the new species would lead to diving expeditions in which tourists could observe the deadly marine creature in its own habitat.
He said he expected that tourists would want to see the box jellyfish, just as they are interested in seeing crocodiles and sharks in the wild.
"It's actually safer here, because we know how to deal with it, we know when these things come out," he said. "This is an added bonus."
www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17408921%255E421,00.html