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Giant barrel jellyfish, recognizable by their huge size and fringed appearance, have been increasingly seen off British shores this year.
There has been a 230 percent increase in sightings of the jellyfish species compared to last year, according to Marine Conservation SocietyAnnual Wildlife Sighting Report.
Anna Bunney, citizen science program manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said many times: “Volunteer reports show how dynamic and ever-changing our coastal region is ecosystems Really are. The increase in barrel jellyfish sightings is particularly interesting.
“While we need more records and data to help understand these fluctuations, they may be linked to warmer ocean temperatures and changing ocean currents. That’s why our public sightings are so important: They help build a clearer picture of what’s happening in our oceans and allow scientists to track changes in real time.”
The barrel jellyfish is the second most visited species on the list, up from fifth place last year.
moon jellyfishWhich is known for its translucent, round exterior, came in first place species with the highest amount of Jellyfish seen in the sea For the second consecutive year.
A total of 316 were spotted off British shores this year, 24 per cent of the total 1,327 jellyfish seen,
also increased Moon jellyfish bloom – which is a bounce population growth – 21 per cent of scenes included more than 100 flowers – up 68 per cent from last year, and also the highest proportion since 2016/17.
There was also an increase in mauve stinger blooms, also known as purple-striped jellyfish, to the highest ever recorded – a 31 percent increase over the previous year.
Sightings of the Portuguese Man o’ War have declined this year with 83 percent fewer reports. It was the second least observed species this year, compared to the second least observed species in 2024.
The Marine Conservation Society estimates that this may be due to fewer storms this year (six compared to 12 last year) and less human-to-human warfare on beaches due to storm surges.
More than half of the sightings occurred in England, and the rankings varied geographically. While the moon jellyfish received the highest ranking in England, the barrel jellyfish was ranked number one in both Wales and Scotland. Mauve stingers were found extensively on the south-west coasts of England and Wales.
The report documents six percent fewer jellyfish sightings in the UK and Ireland between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, compared to the previous year.