Swarms of jellyfish, or sea nettles, have returned in full force
to the Chesapeake Bay, according to reports from local
environmentalists. The migration of jellyfish throughout the
Chesapeake Bay can be seen in a real-time forecasting chart
hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This season is expected to spike, but so far the jellyfish
projections are on par with previous years, according to Sandy
Point State Park Ranger Kenny Hartman. Hartman said the state
park which doubles as a popular beach, has just started getting
reports and sightings of jellyfish. "It's not bad right now, but
it will get worse as the salinity in the water gets higher,
especially because of the lack of rain," Hartman said. When it
rains, the salt content in the water is lowered, which slows the
migration and prevalence of jellyfish. But without rain, the
jellyfish are free to roam wherever they find high levels of
salt in the water. Riverkeeper for the West and Rhode Rivers
Chris Trumbauer said this year is no