Environmental official speaks on influx of Portuguese men o’ war in Rhode Island

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WLNE) — Portuguese men o’ war, jelly-fish-like creatures, have made their way to Rhode Island beaches.

Officials spoke with ABC 6 News on how to help beachgoers stay safe.

Mike Healey, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, explained how the creatures made their way to the Ocean State.

“The gulf stream is like this amazingly-huge river within the ocean, it starts in the Gulf of Mexico and it sort of hugs the Atlantic Coast all the way up to New England,” Healey said.

“The gulf stream is always there, although it is always changing. What happens is these spurs or little pieces of the gulfstream will break off from the main gulfstream and bring Portuguese men o’ war and other tropical species close to Rhode Island and sometimes onto Rhode Island beaches,” Healey continued.

Lifeguard staff at Narragansett Town Beach found an abundance of men o’ war in their waters on Monday.

Mike “Flo” Florio, the waterfront director at Narragansett Town Beach, told ABC 6, “I wanted to check the perimeter of the beach, so I went out about three miles and when I went out there were men o’ war everywhere.”

“They looked like if you took a sandwich baggie and you blew it up and tied a knot on it and they were floating on the surface. It was pretty daunting to see how many were out there,” Florio added.

Since the first discovery of the Portuguese men-of-war, many more have been spotted on the beaches throughout Rhode Island.

The DEM confirmed Wednesday that about 20 men o’ war were spotted around the state at various beaches. The department also reported the first sting from one of the creatures.

“We have seen a handful or more at Roger Wheeler State Beach. Last night at 6 p.m. we had our first sting, which happened at Roger Wheeler,” Healey said.

The Narragansett Surf Rescue Team showed ABC 6 how professionals handle a man o’ war sting, by spraying the affected area with vinegar.

Officials are advising anyone who sees a man o’ war in the water to inform the nearest lifeguard.

If one is found on the shore, inform officials so it can be disposed properly, as dead men o’ war can still pose a health hazard.