Britain: jellyfish near sea coasts

Barrel jellyfish

If you go down to the beach today, you’re in for a nasty surprise

RHIANNON EDWARD

HUGE swarms of jellyfish – some of them poisonous – are being spotted around Britain’s coast as holidaymakers take to the beach in the hot weather.

The massive increase is caused by a slump in numbers of their main predator, the giant leatherback turtle, as a result of injuries caused by fishing nets, lobster pots and other rubbish dumped in the sea.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has called on people to report jellyfish sightings to help biologists study the impact on the turtles and to help their conservation. …

The jellyfish survey has generated more than 3,500 public reports around the UK since its launch in 2003.

The moon jellyfish appears to be the most widespread species, occurring all around the UK, as does the blue jellyfish.

The lion’s mane jellyfish, the species with the most painful sting in the UK, is rarer, but most records come from Scottish waters.

The giant but harmless barrel jellyfish appears to be most common off the coast of Wales, the Solway Firth and the Firth of Clyde.

A guide on recognising the species is available here.