Pafos Press 7 August 2025
Reports of jellyfish and anemones in the island's seas have been circulating on social media recently. A relevant announcement on the subject was issued by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Poisonous marine organisms in the waters of Cyprus The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR), following recent isolated reports made by citizens on social media regarding stings from sea anemones, would like to inform the public that there are various species of marine organisms in the seas of Cyprus that can be dangerous, as they have poison in their tissues or organs.
These include both marine invertebrates, such as jellyfish, anemones, polychaetes, sea urchins, and fish. Detailed information concerning, among other things, the identification of these species as well as the methods of proper prevention and effective treatment of incidents of injury or poisoning by them, can be found in the publication “Poisonous marine organisms in the waters of Cyprus”. The DFMR urges the public to be particularly careful and to avoid contact with these species as much as possible when encountering them in their natural environment. Sea anemone: Where to find it Anemones live near the coasts. A few species live in deeper waters and very few in open waters. Most live singly and very few in colonies. As a rule, anemones live attached to rocks. Some species live in sand or mud, others attach themselves to the shells of various shellfish, while others live parasitically on jellyfish.