Summer Is Here – And So Are The Giant Jellyfish

Hot weather always has its drawbacks. For swimmers on British coastlines it means sharing the water with giant jellyfish.

And if that weren't bad enough, a combination of sunshine and showers that the UK is experiencing at the moment means this year's specimens are bigger than ever.

Barrel jellyfish, also known as dustbin-lid jellyfish, are the largest in British waters and can grow up to 90cm long. In the past few days, Several large specimens have been found washed up on Hampshire shores.

Dr Simon Boxall, an oceanographer at the University of Southampton, said warmth from the early summer days combined with rain washing nutrients into the sea have created good conditions to help the jellyfish grow.

"Jellyfish will thrive if the conditions are right," he said. "They are always there in the seas but they can grow very quickly and at the moment we have had a nice mix of bit of rain, sun and a bit of warmth.

"The rain is washing nutrients off the land into the sea which feeds the plankton and the algae grow, meaning the jellyfish have lots and lots of food which means they are swarming at the moment which is helped by the fairly calm seas.”

Dr Boxall warned swimmers to avoid the jellyfish if they come across them in the water or washed up on shore as they can sting – although he describes the pain as “no worse than nettle rash”.

"They aren't particularly nasty," he said. "Not excruciating pain, no need to rush down to A&E.

“I would avoid them but I wouldn't be scared of them. So there's no reason to avoid going to the beach or clearing the beaches. They are beautiful things.”

Personal fitness trainer Gabrielle Yates found one of the barrel jellyfish on Southsea beach.

She posted a picture of it on Instagram and said: "On the beach today running I spotted this washed up on the shore.

“Possibly the fishermen had caught it accidentally and left it or it was washed in at high tide, either way it's a shame.”

More big examples: