Blooming heck, here come the purple jellyfish

Published on 09/08/2012 01:14

VAST numbers of jellyfish are expected to arrive in UK waters as a result of recent warm weather.

Sightings have been low so far this year, though visitors to Spain’s Costa del Sol have been plagued by mauve stingers, resulting in large numbers of holidaymakers being stung.

The initially low numbers of jellyfish in the UK might be explained by changes in the jet stream, which brought incessant rain. Warmer weather is expected to increase their presence.

Dr Peter Richardson of the Marine Conservation Society said: “Jellyfish are great opportunists and take advantage if conditions at sea are favourable to them.”

The society runs a national survey with the general public reporting any sightings, and they are a good indicator of sea health and temperature. Dr Richardson added: “There is now strong evidence that jellyfish blooms are increasing in some parts of the world and this has been linked to overfishing and pollution, while climate change may also be affecting the seas in their favour. The rise of the jellyfish is telling us that we must take better care of our seas.”

Last summer both reactors at Torness nuclear power station, near Dunbar, East Lothian, were shut down after jellyfish clogged seawater filter screens.