A sea of jellyfish has left an unusual sight in Menorca, with parts of the island covered in a blue tide caused by the arrival of thousands of specimens of the velella velella jellyfish. The Fontanelles area in Menorca has been covered in an intense blue color in recent days due to the massive arrival of these animals, which has produced spectacular images not commonly seen in the Islands.
It is a type of jellyfish harmless to humans, as explained by Laura Prieto on IB3 Radio. Prieto is a member of the CSIC and participates in the Coastal Observation System of the Balearic Islands, which has been launched in the islands to detect this and other coastal phenomena. Prieto has emphasized that these jellyfish do not sting because they are much smaller than other animals of this kind.
Their presence is common in spring along the entire coastal area of Spain, but this year their presence has been massive, probably due to the weather. The CSIC researcher points out that they are carried by the wind and are very small in size. The intense blue color indicates that they are in good health, as when they have problems, they start to lose their characteristic color.
The researcher has pointed out that in spring, the arrival of another type of jellyfish, such as the Portuguese caravel, is also common, but in this case, they are indeed dangerous because they sting. This year, Portuguese caravel have not been detected yet on the coasts of the Balearic Islands, but the presence of velella velella has been observed in other coastal areas of Mallorca. However, the concentration seen in Menorca has been higher this year.
