Man-of-war invade Destin: Wind, warm water most likely draws purple blobs to beaches

Much like dandelions and leaves, Portuguese Man-of-War have no means of propulsion, so they are at the mercy of the wind, which is more than likely what caused thousands of the marine invertebrates to wash ashore Destin beaches last week.

“We are seeing more of them because of the warm weather and the direction of the wind,” Destin Fire Control District Beach Safety Chief Joe D’Agostino told The Log Monday. “Those bubbles you see on their backs act like sails.”

Most commonly mistaken for a jellyfish, the man-of-war is anything but a jelly, it’s actually a siphonophore, an animal made up of a colony of organisms working together. According to the National Geographic website, man-of-wars are found, sometimes in groups of 1,000 or more.

When a large number of the marine creatures are present, it’s common practice on local beaches to fly the purple flag, which lets beachgoers know that dangerous marine life is present. Residents and visitors are urged not to touch the stranded sea creatures due to their stinging tentacles, which even when the man-of-war is dead, can cause severe discomfort.

As for the man-of-wars on Destin beaches, D’Agostino said they are common this time of year and could be seen washing up on beaches until spring.

“If you had a predominately north wind, you wouldn’t see them as much, but since we’ve had a strong south wind, you see them,” he said. “This is the most I have ever seen them in Destin though — but this is also the warmest January I have ever seen since I’ve lived here.”