Mauve jellyfish swarm Heraklion coast from Palaiokastro to Ammoudara, resident says
Large numbers of mauve stinger jellyfish, a species with a potent neurotoxin that causes a very painful sting, have filled the sea area from Pantanassa and Palaiokastro to Ammoudara in Heraklion in recent days, according to a local resident who spoke to Cretalive.
Giannis Flouris, a year-round swimmer well known at the Palaiokastro beach, said the appearance of mauve stingers at this time of year is not unusual, as they tend to gather in large numbers along the coast from late August through November. He told Cretalive he personally collected around 55 jellyfish in a single day using a canoe and a thin crate, after finding them clustered close to shore.
“They were everywhere,” swimmer says
“These days the beaches of Heraklion are full of mauve stingers. We’re talking about the whole sea area from Palaiokastro to Pantanassa to Ammoudara,” Flouris said. He described the jellyfish as gathering only a few metres from the shoreline, prompting him to shout warnings to people nearby to stay out of the water.
“I took the canoe I had, found a thin crate, and went into the water. It was unbelievable — the jellyfish were everywhere. I collected as many as I could and took them out,” he said, adding that the species carries a strong neurotoxin. “If it stings you, you’ll suffer. Painful stinging, burning, swelling.”
According to Flouris, the jellyfish were not swimming deep, staying at around 50 to 60 centimetres below the surface. He warned that the danger is not limited to the jellyfish themselves: their tentacles can detach — for example if bitten by a fish — and remain toxic while floating, transparent and largely invisible, and can extend more than a metre in length. “If they land on you, you’re in trouble. You need to be careful — not panic, since this is a normal seasonal occurrence, but be cautious,” he said.
Identifying the mauve stinger
The mauve stinger, known scientifically as Pelagia noctiluca, causes painful stings because of a strong neurotoxin in its tentacles that produces intense stinging, burning, redness and swelling of the skin. Its toxin is alkaline, so vinegar and ammonia should not be used to treat stings, as they can worsen the pain. The species has a distinctive purple-pink or brownish colour with a bell-shaped body marked by small spots, and is known to emit a faint bioluminescent glow in the dark.
First-aid steps for stings
Health guidance cited in the report recommends rinsing the affected area immediately with seawater, not fresh water, and avoiding rubbing the skin with a towel or sand, as this can rupture remaining venom-filled cells and intensify the pain. A paste made from baking soda mixed with seawater in equal parts can be applied to the sting and left for two to three minutes to help stop further release of toxins.
The mauve stinger swarm near Heraklion follows a separate report of thousands of pink jellyfish swarming Agios Georgios bay off Dia island near Heraklion earlier in the season. Bathers planning to visit the region’s beaches are advised to watch for jellyfish before entering the water.
