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Rising sea temperatures could explain increase in jellyfish blooms across British coastline

A global and UK-wide increase in sea temperatures could be the reason why there have been more blooms of jellyfish spotted across the British coastline this summer.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain yesterday, wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly discussed why rising sea temperatures could explain why statistics from the Marine Conservation show an increase in the number of jellyfish collecting along the southwest coast of England and the south coast of Wales.

Jellyfish collect in calm bays during the summer months when warm water brings in phytoplankton, a microscopic marine algae that they feed on, however it is not known whether a rise in sea temperatures is the only reason for the recent increase.

The Marine Conservation Society has been running a sighting programme over the past twenty years in order to to build a better understanding of the change in numbers and distribution of jellyfish across the UK, and is calling on beachgoers to report jellyfish sightings on the charity’s website as part of its national jellyfish survey.

Click to read our definitive guide to jellyfish for open water swimmers

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