Jello Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert Jell-O 3oz 85g American Jelly Jello

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We think that jellyfish stay actively in a particular area. Whether there is some movement locally, for example from the south to the north coast of Cornwall, we are unsure. It’s unlikely they cover long distances on a big scale, other than if they’re transported via a storm, however we can’t be certain. There are differences genetically between species from various parts of the world, which lends towards this hypothesis.” (VH)

There are several jellyfish species that occur regularly in Cornish waters plus a few odd closely related things. The good news is, most of them are harmless and there are only a couple of species which sting. We outline the identifying characteristics of all of these species below. Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia Aurita) Jellyfish come under a group called cnidarians and are invertebrate multicellular beings. They’ve been around for approximately 500 million years since the dinosaurs and are one of the earliest life forms that formed in the oceans. They eat a variety of different things from plankton to fish. Generally the more vicious the sting, the bigger the thing they eat. For example, the Portuguese Man-o-War eat fish so they have quite a nasty sting to immobilise their prey, whereas things like the moon jellyfish eat plankton so they don’t need a nasty sting.” (VH) This week we caught up with Doctor Victoria Hobson and Professor Stuart Bearhop at the University of Exeter’s Bioscience Department to get the lowdown on jellyfish, including which ones you can expect to see off the Cornish coast and how to stay safe in the water. We’ve answered all of the questions you sent and provided an overview of the species found in Cornwall to help you to swim in confidence. You can leave a comment at the bottom of this post if there’s anything else you would like to know. Fife Nature Records Centre, 2018. St Andrews BioBlitz 2015. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/xtrbvy accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-27.

Compass jellyfish (chrysaora hysoscella)

It’s difficult to know whether we are seeing more or less jellyfish today because people can report them more now. Generally the numbers wax and wane from year to year. It is normal for jellyfish numbers to peak during summer and autumn which is why we’re seeing lots of them at the moment.” (VH) Kent Wildlife Trust, 2018.Kent Wildlife Trust Shoresearch Intertidal Survey 2004 onwards.Occurrence dataset: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/ accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01. Q & A: Your Questions Answered by Professor Bearhop and Dr Hobson Are there any reasons I shouldn’t go in when there are jellyfish?

The only species to be concerned about as a swimmer is the Portuguese Man o War. These are in a different group to the ones outlined above and can produce quite severe reactions in humans, they can have very long tentacles extending out from the float and main body. These occur in small numbers most years and usually in the autumn. However in some years they are extremely abundant.” (SB) Jelly pots are sure to make a fun addition to your little one’s lunch. If jelly isn’t for you, you can’t go wrong with some ice cream. For those on the hunt for a decadent dessert to finish off your meals with, we’ve got a great selection of cake slices. And have a look at our frozen cheesecakes for a rich and creamy delight. Don’t forget to grab some doughnuts and pies while you set the table for your breakfasts and brunches. Generally plankton eating species have shorter tentacles and fish eating ones have longer ones.” (VH) Marine Conservation Society, 2018.UK Jellyfish Sightings from 2003 to 2015.Occurrence dataset: https://www.mcsuk.org/ accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-10-01. Cofnod – North Wales Environmental Information Service, 2018. Miscellaneous records held on the Cofnod database. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/hcgqsi accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-09-25.Centre for Environmental Data and Recording, 2018. Ulster Museum Marine Surveys of Northern Ireland Coastal Waters. Occurrence dataset https://www.nmni.com/CEDaR/CEDaR-Centre-for-Environmental-Data-and-Recording.aspx accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-25. It can occur in vast swarms and if there are strong westerly and south-westerly winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean in the late summer and autumn months, huge numbers are stranded along the South West and Welsh coastlines, although this is rare.

Velella is blue in colour and has a very distinctive triangular sail on top of a circular base under which hang small tentacle. It floats on the surface of the sea and is blown by the wind. Environmental Records Information Centre North East, 2018.ERIC NE Combined dataset to 2017. Occurrence dataset: http://www.ericnortheast.org.ukl accessed via NBNAtlas.org on 2018-09-38Also known as the dustbin lid jellyfish, this species is found mostly around the west and south coasts of the British Isles, although they can also show up around the Welsh coast and elsewhere in around the UK from time to time. They are also found throughout European waters, especially in the Mediterranean. They are a large jellyfish species, reaching up to a metre across in exceptional specimens, although they are usually half this size in British waters. The usual colour is white to pale yellow. This species of jellyfish is easily identified by its domed bell upper section and trailing tentacles, the upper portions of which are often referred to as resembling the appearance of a cauliflower. The barrel jellyfish feeds by catching plankton and microscopic mid-water crustaceans in its tentacles as it floats through the water. Like most jellyfish species the barrel jellyfish is much more likely to be found in British waters in the warmer months of the year. OBIS (Ocean BiodiversityInformation System), 2023. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2023-11-28 National Trust, 2017. National Trust Species Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/opc6g1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01. If people do get stung, any tentacles attached to the skin should be removed and the area washed with salt or fresh water.