Grim pictures show wall of jellyfish as sunseekers leave Scots beach deserted despite sizzling temperatures
WHAT THE JELL? Grim pictures show wall of jellyfish as sunseekers leave Scots beach deserted despite sizzling temperatures
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A SCOTTISH beach was left deserted this afternoon despite the sizzling weather due to a huge wall of jellyfish on the shore.
In the popular Ayrshire hotspot of Ayr, temperatures reached 21C, which would usually see families flock to the beach during the school holidays.
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A wall of jellyfish were washed up on Ayr beach this afternoon
Credit: Les Gallagher
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They appear to be giant barrel jellyfish - one of the largest species found in UK seas
Credit: Les Gallagher
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Sunseekers stayed clear of the sea creatures on the shore front
Credit: Les Gallagher
However, pictures show hundreds of jellyfish dotted along the sand on the seafront.
Many sunseekers opted to stay clear of the sea creatures which had been washed up.
They appear to be giant barrel jellyfish - one of the largest species found in UK seas with some growing to nearly a metre across.
The sting of the barrel jellyfish is not normally harmful to humans, though if you find one on the beach it's best not to handle it as they can still sting when dead.
Visitors and locals are being urged to take extra care as marine heatwaves draw not only bigger but also more dangerous jellyfish closer to the UK's shores.
Sea temperatures in parts of the Celtic Sea, English Channel and southern North Sea are currently 1.5C to 3C higher than normal – more like August than early July, according to the Met Office.
Marine experts fear this warming is not just a one-off.
Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, warned: 'We're now turning on our water chillers in May.
"Ten years ago it was in July. Not only are we starting them earlier, we're having to keep them going for longer.'
She believes the jellyfish aren't getting bigger, but more of them are coming closer to shore.
'They are always big specimens out in deep waters,' she said.
'But as the sea warms they're venturing closer to coastlines, and so we're seeing more of these bigger jellyfish washing up.'
Swarms of jellyfish 'the size of dustbin lids' have been spotted washing up on beaches across North Wales.
Social media has been flooded with photos showing huge jellyfish along Gwynedd's west coast, with recent sightings in Conwy and Rhyl, Denbighshire.
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