Scientists scan Ningaloo water for deadly Irukandji DNA

Scientists are working to better understand two dangerous jellyfish species found at a WA tourist hotspot in a bid to provide an early detection system.

It is hoped early detection can be developed to help protect visitors to the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo reef region from venomous Irukandji.

Dozens of people are hospitalised each year with Irukandji syndrome symptoms after snorkelling on the 300-kilometre reef despite regular warnings.

Marine biologist Jess Strickland is studying the two Irukandji species named Malo bella and Keesingia gigas using environmental DNA technology.

"The project came about from Parks and Wildlife saying 'hey, we've got these two Irukandji here, we are getting stings each year and we don't know much about them'," the Griffith University PhD student told AAP.

Both species were only recently scientifically described and Ms Strickland is working to find out when and where they appear.

"Malo bella is a small a small classic Irukandji-looking jellyfish," she said.

"It's bell is about the size of your thumbnail. It's got four tentacles and they tend to be found in the open ocean."

Ms Strickland said Malo bella are usually found during the winter months, although they have also been spotted in the warmer months.

Sightings of much larger Keesingia gigas, which grow up to 45 centimetres in length, are rare.

"It's long and it looks like a giant rocket ship covered in warts of stinging cells," she said.

"It looks like a plastic bag (in the water), or litter, so people sometimes mistake them for that and go to handle them or pick them up."

The research team find the dangerous and near-invisible jellyfish by searching for their DNA in the ocean.

It's a system Ms Strickland is developing to enable more accurate monitoring of the jellyfish.

"All animals large and small shed minute traces of themselves and leave them behind in the environment ... and with that they leave little bits of genetic code," Ms Strickland said.

"Technology has gotten so good that we can take a water sample and then look for a specific code that is unique to the species we are studying to work out if that species has been present recently."

Minderoo Foundation's Flourishing Oceans initiative director Tony Worby said the research would lead to the development of an Irukandji early detection system to help protect the more 200,000 tourists who flock to the remote area annually from painful stings.

"We need to manage the risks posed by Irukandji jellyfish in the Ningaloo Marine Park," he said.

The research is being undertaken at the hi-tech Minderoo Foundation Exmouth Research Lab on the North West Cape about 1250km north of Perth.

It is focused on conserving Ningaloo Reef and other unique marine environments around the world.

"We work with the state government, traditional owners, and all of the ocean's stakeholders here in the Exmouth community to ensure that the science we support through the lab will have practical outcomes and lead to better ocean health," Dr Worby said.

Symptoms of Irukandji syndrome include severe muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, restlessness, breathing difficulties, sweating and elevated blood pressure.

This AAP article was made possible by support from the Minderoo Foundation.