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

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A boat owner reported seeing “millions” of jellyfish in Cardigan Bay and rough seas last weekend may have brought them 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.”