A Powys woman encountered a “huge” barrel jellyfish washed up on a beach, larger than any other she had seen from her years of visiting Welsh beaches.
While enjoying a family day out on Ynyslas beach, located within the Dyfi Nature Reserve between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth, Caersws resident Glenys Vivers encountered a jellyfish washed up on the shore.
The large jellyfish, which Glenys found on Sunday, May 19, was reportedly over a meter wide and was so large that from a distance she mistook it for an octopus.
She said: “We were having a family day out last Sunday as the weather was lovely, but as we got to Ynaslas beach a thick sea mist had come in, so when we walked towards the water, I could see something large on the waters edge coming into sight.
OTHER NEWS:
- Police find shotgun in lorry belonging to Powys man
- Beaver re-introduced to Powys put down after suffering series of injuries
- 'Buzz and enthusiasm growing' with a few days to go until 2024 Urdd Eisteddfod
“I thought it was an octopus, but as I got closer realised it was a huge barrel jellyfish.
“I’ve never seen anything as large as this in all the years I’ve been going to the beaches around Wales.”
Barrel jellyfish are the largest species of jellyfish found in UK waters. They can grow to the size of dustbin lids, which gives them their other common name; dustbin-lid jellyfish. They have eight frilly arms, which contain their small stinging tentacles and surround hundreds of little mouths
According to the Wildlife Trust, jellyfish swarm in warmer coastal waters in late spring and often wash up on our beaches in May or June.
They feed on plankton found in shallow waters, which is reportedly what often causes them to become beached as they underestimate their own size.
Despite their huge size, the sting of the barrel jellyfish is not normally harmful to humans, though if it is advised that anyone who finds one on the beach should not handle it as they can still sting when dead.
People can report jellyfish sightings to the Marine Conservation Society as they contribute to marine research, monitoring jellyfish populations around the UK as they can be essential indicators of change in sea changes and ocean health.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here