Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira - CORPOGUAJIRA seeks to warn the community about the presence of Medusa Fragata Portuguesa, This species is distributed by all the planet warm waters, especially in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Gulf Stream and even they can be found in the Mediterranean. Their presence in the Colombian coast is mainly due to temporary weather disturbances, that change the direction and speed of winds, the increase of these occurrences can be related to the temperature rise of the water surface.

Although this species has a physical appearance of jellyfish, This is not actually a jellyfish, but a colonial animals floating, is a colony of organisms that are associated to survive, commonly known as false jellyfish or Portuguese Caravel, Its scientific name isPhysalia physalis, This body belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, like anemones, corals, fans and sea pens. It is a carnivorous animal, with its poisonous tentacles traps and paralyzes its prey, usually capture small aquatic organisms such as fish and plankton, It is characterized by its striking blue, purple and fuchsia, It has a float candle shape that allows to drift through currents or by wind.

They have been identified as predators of this organism loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta and hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, which they are species subject to catch and illegal trafficking in the Department of La Guajira.

The Corporation makes a call to the community to inform immediately if they notice the presence of this species in the sea or on the coast, our hotline citizen: 7275125 / 7283518.

CORPOGUAJIRA works articulately with DIMAR to create an early warning, because of evidenciarse their presence is necessary to take preventive measures to protect and transient population, such as the temporary closure of beaches, prohibition on bathing and recreational activities in the same, since the Portuguese frigate secretes a neurotoxin that people contact may cause irritation, and could eventually generate a cardiorespiratory collapse simple contact.

precautions:

– Avoid all contact by observing a specimen or remains of this.

– Do not swim in the sea while this alert.

– If we saw at sea we need to get away quickly as the tentacles may be present in the surrounding vicinity over 10 meters.

– It is necessary to be very careful if you are a dead specimen on the coast because its poison continuous active even when they are inert.

– Call the hotline CORPOGUAJIRA citizen and report the sighting of the species in beach or sea.

If contact occurs:

1. Do not rub the affected area with sand or, nor towel or clothing.
2. Remove the remains of tentacles, take avoiding direct contact with them.
3. Washing with sea water or serum(Do not use fresh water because it can activate more toxin),once thoroughly washed the affected area, If we have access to heat, apply an approximately 40 – 45 ° C for 10-20 minutes.
4. It is important to contact the nearest health center, since it can present any symptoms such as feeling of extreme skin burn, tachycardia, sickness, dizziness, limb spasms, headache or joint, disturbance pulse or blood pressure, swelling, etc.