June 15, 2020 by Laura Winters
This weekend, throughout Hingham Harbor, including the Inner Harbor, sightings of numerous large jellyfish were reported. The jellyfish are assumed to be Lion’s Mane jellyfish, which have been spotted in waters throughout New England. These are known not only for their size but also a powerful sting that can be painful to humans.
The Lion's Mane jellyfish is among the largest species of jellyfish with the largest ever recorded Lion's Mane measuring a whopping diameter of 121 feet. (*edited to correct original article that stated 7 feet instead of 121 feet)
According to a communication sent by the Hingham Harbormaster, "the reported sightings in Hingham describe the jellyfish’s umbrella or body from eight (8) inches to two (2) feet in diameter with many long tentacles."
On at least one occasion this weekend, a Hingham resident was stung by a Lion's Mane jellyfish. Over the weekend, 9-year-old Lila Ferguson was stung by one of these large jellies. “It felt like electric pins and lots of needles in my legs, and it pulled me down a little because it was big," shares Ferguson. "The scariest part was you couldn’t see it in the water, but afterward you could see the imprint of the jellyfish on my legs. It was also hard to swim back to the boat because of the needle feeling," she continued.
The Anchor caught up with Harbormaster, Ken Corson to discuss the presence of the Lion's Mane jellyfish. He shared, "it's important for people to know that they are here, in all of Hingham's waters. People may want to limit swimming at this time, especially those with pre-existing conditions or allergies that might cause a worse reaction to a sting."
According to researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the best first aid for a Lion's Mane sting is to rinse it with vinegar to remove tentacles, and then immerse the affected area in hot water, at 45 degrees Celsius, or apply a heat pack, for 40 minutes. There are also jellyfish sting kits available for purchase. According to Ferguson, "The vinegar, my mom and Jellyfish sting gel made it feel better."
If experiencing complications from a jellyfish sting, hail the Harbormaster on VHF 16 or call 911.
As a final note, Corson shared, "this is a great opportunity to see a beautiful sea creature. If you spot a Lion’s Mane, I would not recommend entering the water but instead observing its natural beauty from a distance."
Boaters are not required to but may contact the Harbormaster with sightings and questions at VHF 12 or 16.