Sea nettles (Chrysaora quinquecirrha), a type of stinging jellyfish, are present in the waters of Barnegat Bay and other coastal waterways of New Jersey. Through DEP-funded research, more information is now known about the lifecycle of sea nettles in Barnegat Bay including a better understanding of how man-made structures (e.g. bulkheads and floating docks) are providing perfect habitat for sea nettle polyps to attach and over-winter (Bologna, 2016). As a result, DEP developed targeted outreach materials and hosted numerous “Bulkhead Blitz” events, which were designed to educate property owners with hard-plastic docks and bulkheads on simple ways they can help keep stinging sea nettles in check. Periodic scrubbing or power-washing can effectively remove the speck-sized polyps that adhere to hard surfaces, and by removing floating docks for the winter, polyps are also denied potential settling habitat. By interfering with the polyps at this lifecycle stage, they are prevented from spawning into buds, which release into the water in the spring and grow to become adult sea nettles in the summer.

Continued research, including the possibility of using potential natural predators of sea nettle polyps, in addition to continued outreach to lagoon communities, is needed to reduce and maintain the sea nettle populations and enhance the use of Barnegat Bay.

• Actions: Continued research, outreach, and implementation


• Lead: Academia and DEP – Division of Water Monitoring and Standards


• Partners: Community members and organizations including: Berkeley Township Underwater Rescue Squad, ReClam the Bay, Barnegat Bay Partnership, Barnegat Bay marina owners and homeowner associations, and the DEP – Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, and Division of Fish and Wildlife


• Progress: $300,000 Water Quality Restoration Grant to increase community awareness about how the number of harmful sea nettles can be reduced and allow community members to immediately take impactful actions to reduce the polyp population nesting on hard substrates in the lagoon locations of Barnegat Bay. Funding awarded to Berkeley Township – Underwater Search & Rescue Unit in state fiscal year 2018.