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The last few months have seen unprecedented numbers of the
highly venomous Portuguese Man-O-War (a colonial jellyfish)
washing up on the Welsh and Irish coasts of the Irish Sea.
Normally associated with warmer waters of the Gulf Stream,
these jellyfish were probably blown into our coastal waters
and shores as a result of the above normal winds experienced
during July and August of this year, according to the EcoJel
Project.
However, it is not unusual to see a Portuguese Man-O-War
in our coastal seas, as there are many historical records
dating back to early 1900s. What is unusual is to see lots
of them in the Irish Sea. Most records of the Portuguese Man-O-War
are from the west coast of Ireland.
If you see a Portuguese Man-O-War don’t touch it - they have
a very powerful sting and should be avoided.
To report a sighting/stranding of a jellyfish - Click
Here
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