- Hundreds of bright electric blue marine creatures washed up along St Bees beach in Cumbria after strong westerly winds and warm weather carried them ashore.
- The creatures, identified as Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, have left UK beachgoers baffled.
- Experts believe that more strandings of these creatures could occur over the summer due to the recent spell of unusually warm weather.
- Similar sightings of by-the-wind-sailors were reported along the Welsh coast earlier this summer, marking one of the largest strandings of the species in more than a decade.
- Velella velella are colonial hydroids, which means they are colonies of tiny organisms that work together as a single animal.
- Each Velella velella measures around two inches (five centimeters) long and has a small translucent sail that allows it to drift across the ocean's surface.
Hundreds of Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, have washed ashore in the UK, particularly at St Bees beach in Cumbria, amid a heatwave. These bright blue creatures, measuring about two inches long, are not true jellyfish but colonial hydroids that drift on the ocean's surface.256
The recent warm weather, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C in parts of southeast England, has contributed to this unusual phenomenon. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber heat-health alerts due to the prolonged hot weather.
Local resident Louise Nicholson described the scene, saying, "There were hundreds of them, and there were lots of visitors to the area taking photos. They are absolutely beautiful, only about 2 inches in size. It was a great find on a beautiful day."
Despite their jellyfish-like appearance, Velella velella are generally harmless, although they possess short stinging tentacles that can cause mild irritation. Beachgoers are advised to admire them from a distance, as handling them can lead to discomfort.
The creatures are typically spotted along the coastlines of Britain and Ireland during autumn and winter, but this summer's sightings mark one of the largest strandings in over a decade. Experts suggest that more strandings could occur as the warm weather continues.3
The Met Office has noted that the warm waters from the Atlantic may have played a role in bringing these creatures closer to shore, leading to what some are calling a "blue tide."
“The creatures are Velella velella, or by-the-wind-sailors, colonial hydroids that drift on a small translucent sail and are not true jellyfish. Cumbria Wildlife Trust advises beachgoers to look but not touch, saying they can give a very nasty sting.”
Daily Star
