Invasion of the monster jellyfish
As big as dustbin lids, they’re flocking to our south coast seas
A MONSTER from the deep, it seems to dwarf the diver next to it. And it’s not alone...
Dozens of barrel jellyfish have turned up in the harbour at Torquay, causing a stir in the Devon resort.
More of the creatures, often called ‘dustbin-lid jellyfish’ because of their size, have been spotted along the coast in Dorset, with the one in the main picture here seen off Chesil Beach.
Locals in Torquay spotted up to 60 barrel jellyfish in the shallow waters of the harbour on Wednesday evening.
They are an intimidating sight, growing up to 35in in diameter with tentacles up to 6ft long. But experts say their stings are not powerful enough to harm humans – although people are advised against handling them.
The warm weather over the Easter weekend will have improved stocks of plankton, on which they feed, encouraging the animals inland.
Guy Pottinger, 35, was walking by the harbour in Torquay when he noticed a large jellyfish in the water. ‘Then out of nowhere another much larger jellyfish swam alongside it,’ he said. ‘This one was huge, about 2ft in diameter.
‘It looked as though they were feeding off something on the harbour wall. As I walked on I noticed lots more. There was a swarm of them.
‘They were mesmerising to watch. I’ve lived here for years but never actually seen one in the harbour before. A small crowd had noticed more further along the harbour. People were thrilled to see them – they look so eerie.’
Earlier this month three divers including photographer Paul Pettitt, 53, spotted barrel jellyfish off Chesil Beach, near the Isle of Portland in Dorset.
Barrel jellyfish are common in British waters, especially on the southern and western coasts, but Dr Peter Richardson of the Marine Conservation Society said anyone who spots one should report the sighting online to the society.
‘We still know relatively little about jellyfish and what drives changes in their numbers, so reporting even a single one can help,’ he said.
While the warm Easter was good for both jellyfish and humans, forecasters say that is about to change with the arrival of a storm that will make the weekend ‘feel like January’.
Storm Hannah is due to arrive from 9pm today, bringing gusts of up to 70mph in parts of south and southwest England and south Wales. There is even a chance that snow could fall on Welsh mountains and in the Pennines.
The wet and windy weather is expected to last until 3pm tomorrow, with the Met Office warning of disruption to travel and power cuts.
‘Mesmerising to watch’