SWIMMERS are being urged to avoid Lough Hyne after a large number of jellyfish were spotted at the popular lake, as well as a report of a Portuguese Man’o War near Ballyalla.
Skibbereen Heritage Centre shared details of the sighting last week, warning swimmers that there was ‘quite a high numbers of mauve stingers (including adults) seen all around Lough Hyne this morning, including at Kelly’s Pier and South Basin and East Shore’.
‘The advice from Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UCC, is to proceed with caution if you do decide to swim as they can give quite a nasty sting. So just be careful out there.’
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The centre also warned of a possible sighting of the deadly Portuguese Man’o War at Ballyalla, near Skibbereen.
Meanwhile, huge numbers of mauve stingers were also reported at the water mark on Barleycove beach last Sunday.
In August a similar alert was issued when around 100 Pelagia noctiluca, commonly known as mauve stingers, were spotted around Lough Hyne’s South Basin, moving northwards.
Locals and visitors are urged to spread the word and take extra caution. Swimming at Lough Hyne is not advisable at present until the jellyfish disperse.
