Cool but Sad Sight as Rare Purple Jellyfish Wash Up on Beach
Hundreds of thousands of rare purple jellyfish have washed up on a British beach. The ‘Mauve Stingers’ are only small, but are capable of a powerful sting and glow brightly at night if disturbed. The jellyfish were spotted washed up at Porth Hellick on St Mary’s on the Isles Of Scilly.
– The species, uncommon close to UK shores, may be found offshore and in warmer European waters such as the Mediterranean, especially from July to October.
– The Wildlife Trust explains that their presence depends on weather and ocean currents.
– Photographs of the creatures were shared by Nikki Banfield, known as The BareFoot Photographer.
Nikki said: “We get Mauve Stingers fairly regularly in Scilly – but in bulk like this, hundreds of thousands, is not common. It’s really cool but also a sad sight because they are washing up on shore and dying.”
– The jellyfish are around six to seven centimetres in diameter, with thousands of smaller ones washed up amidst the seaweed and sand.
– Many sea swimmers mention how the ocean nearby looks like ‘jellyfish soup’ underneath.
– The smaller the jelly, the bigger the sting, according to swimmers.
Nikki believes that the huge numbers of these jellyfish washing up onshore could be due to various reasons:
– Ocean temperatures affect food abundance, leading to jellyfish blooming and breeding rapidly.
– Issues like global heating, overfishing, and climate change may cause a decrease in jellyfish predators.
– The Marine Strandings Network monitors and records dead marine wildlife strandings.
Nikki, a lifelong resident of Scilly, emphasized the importance of contributing to wildlife conservation efforts. The sightings can be reported to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine Strandings Network. Jellyfish, she said, fascinate people and it’s crucial to help wildlife by understanding and protecting marine life.