According to data gathered by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), there has been a 32% surge in jellyfish sightings along the coastlines of the United Kingdom.
During the period from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, the most commonly observed jellyfish species were barrel jellyfish, accounting for 437 out of the 1,737 reported sightings. These barrel jellyfish are sometimes colloquially referred to as ‘dustbin lid jellyfish’ due to their ability to grow up to one meter in diameter. In addition to barrel jellyfish, members of the public who contributed data to the survey also reported sightings of lion’s mane, blue, and Portuguese man o’war jellyfish species.
Jellyfish populations exhibit annual variations, influenced by environmental factors such as sea temperatures and storms, with a tendency to proliferate between spring and autumn. Notably, June marked the hottest month on record in the UK, accompanied by a marine heatwave that raised sea temperatures by approximately 4 degrees Celsius.
The number of jellyfish sightings reported to MCS can also be influenced by the fascination and novelty factor of the encounters, as noted by Dr. Peter Richardson, the organization’s Head of Ocean Recovery. He commented that this year appears to have been particularly favorable for barrel jellyfish, a robust species that can proliferate significantly under suitable conditions. Dr. Richardson emphasized the importance of observing trends over many years to understand the reasons behind these changes.
Jellyfish are recognised as indicator species, serving as signals of long-term changes in the ocean, such as increasing water temperatures. While some research has suggested a potential link between the rise in jellyfish numbers in the UK and climate change, MCS pointed out that there is currently insufficient evidence to establish a definitive connection. The Wildlife Sightings program conducted by MCS, whose annual results were released today, collects long-term data to establish a baseline for monitoring jellyfish trends in UK waters.
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