ALARM BUT LITTLE HARM FROM HUGE SWARM OF JELLYFISH

A HUGE invasion of “pretty” jellyfish on the west Wales coast has left residents and tourists stunned.

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At this time of year beaches are often littered with the creatures but the sheer numbers being seen are beyond anything in recent memory.

A boat owner reported seeing “millions” of jellyfish in Cardigan Bay and rough seas last weekend may have brought many closer to shorelines. With the UK gripped by a marine heatwave, caused by the mild spring, warmer sea surface temperatures were expected to trigger a surge in jellyfish populations.

Online reports suggest large numbers on Gwynedd’s beaches, including Criccieth, Fairboroune and Traeth y Greigddu (Black Rock Sands), near Porthmadog. Some of the most impressive invasions were seen at Barmouth, where one long-time local reported:

“There are thousands of them along the shoreline, I’ve never seen so many. They are about the size of a hand and have four purple rings visible in them.”