Report identifies waters around Devon and Cornwall as jellyfish hotspot

• 
  A lion's mane jellyfish
• 
  A moon jellyfish
• 
  A compass jellyfish
• 
  A barrel jellyfish
• 
  A blue jellyfish
• 
  A lion's mane jellyfish
• 
  A moon jellyfish

• Previous
• Next

 Comments (2)

The Westcountry has been identified as a hotspot for jellyfish sightings in a new report which analyses where and when the creatures appear.

The University of Exeter study – published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association – was based on more than 5,000 jellyfish sightings, of eight different species, sent to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) between 2003 and 2011.

The coasts of Devon and Cornwall were identified as hotspots for both the diversity of species seen and in what numbers.

“Our survey puts jellyfish on the map in the UK. In this latest paper we show where and when these species now occur throughout UK coastal waters,” said Peter Richardson, biodiversity programme manager for the MCS.

“The last time the national picture was described was well over four decades ago, so this study provides a very timely update.”

The survey is the largest of its kind in the UK and has been attracting a growing number of sightings, with 1,133 reports last year.

Moon, compass, lion’s mane, blue and barrel jellyfish are the most common, according to the study. Other species include the mauve stinger and the Portuguese man of war and by-the-wind sailor which are close relatives of jellyfish.

More than 500 reports have already been made this year – mainly of barrel jellyfish.

Professor Brendan Godley, of the University of Exeter, said: “The remarkable number of barrel jellyfish reported from South West England this year is quite unusual, and at odds with what our report describes, previous years have seen hotspots for this species in West Welsh and Scottish waters. We’re not sure why, but the very mild winter probably meant more adults survived at depth, which will have returned to the surface in spring as waters warmed up.

“This year’s strange barrel jellyfish results highlight the importance of running the survey year in and year out to track these unusual events

and discover if they turn into trends.”

Dr Richardson said: “We still know relatively little about jellyfish, but given the economic impacts that large numbers of jellyfish can have on tourism, fishing, aquaculture and even power generation, we can’t afford to ignore them.

read more