KK City Hall bans swimming at beaches amid jellyfish bloom

KOTA KINABALU: Swimming at the two main beaches in the city here have been banned after a jellyfish bloom was spotted in the area.

Kota Kinabalu City Hall issued a warning against swimming at the Tanjung Aru Beach 1 and Teluk Likas Public Park beach here with immediate effect.

Mayor Datuk Noorliza Awang Alip said that the public safety measure was because jellyfish stings could be dangerous.

"KK City Hall has received a report of the presence of jellyfish at Tanjung Aru beach and Teluk Likas park beach.

"Visitors are prohibited from swimming in the area," she said in a statement posted on the city hall social media Facebook page.

She said the ban was effective immediately in the interest of public safety.

The type of jellyfish spotted along the beaches have yet to be identified by the authorities but some jellyfish are highly venomous.

Kota Kinabalu waters were known for jellyfish blooms some of which are non-venomous and venomous. Its stings could cause mild itches and allergic reactions and some severe cases that could lead to fatality.

The Box jellyfish were among the more venomous species of jellyfish that had been spotted in Sabah's waters and have been blamed for a few fatal cases.

A jellyfish bloom is when a substantial increase in the population of jellyfish in one area occurs.

They usually occur when seawater is warm and during the inter-monsoon season.

Earlier this week, Sabah Fisheries Department warned the public to avoid consuming and harvesting shellfish following the discovery of red tide-causing algae in coastal waters around Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran recently.