Tasmanians are being warned to be extra cautious when swimming in the ocean after a recent sighting of a box jellyfish on the northwest coast.
The unexpected encounter has prompted warnings to beachgoers as, although the species is not deadly like its Queensland counterpart, the box jellyfish sting can still cause significant pain.
Recreational snorkeler Anthony Clark had an unexpected run-in with the venomous creature 2-3m from the shoreline while swimming near Ulverstone, telling 7NEWS he thought it was just a regular jellyfish when he first saw it.
“I thought it was just a regular jellyfish, so I gave it a bit of a boop just to help it along its way, and that’s when I realised, oh, there’s something actually a bit different about this one,” said Clark.
Swimmers are being advised to cover up and wear protective clothing if they plan on entering waters where these species have been sighted, with full body suits providing some protection against stings.
While Clark escaped unharmed, he is urging other swimmers to be vigilant when entering the water.
“Anywhere you go in Tassie, it’s worthwhile just being aware of your surroundings.”
I’ll certainly keep an eye out for them now that I know that they’re around,” he said.
