UK: Warm waters bring deadly Portuguese Man O' War to North Devon beaches

[Emily]

http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/more_portuguese_man_of_war_strandings_reported_1_1531712

Photo: Kate Pufahl sent in this snap of a jellyfish spotted on Putsborough last Sunday with her husband and son.
More Portuguese Man of War strandings reported

Sarah Howells Thursday, September 27, 2012
1:02 PM

Mass stranding of Portuguese Man of War is the fourth reported in ten years, says Marine Conservation Society.
[snip]
Dr Peter Richardson, from the MCS, said: “Since the end of August we have had around 50 reports of 100 jellyfish sighted in the South West.

“It seems as sea surface temperatures rise, warmer waster pulses come up from the tropics and brings with it more tropical species.”...

(See article above for map of sightings & cautions not to touch the Portuguese Man O' War.)

http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/Dangerous-Portuguese-Man-O-War-Westward-Ho-beach/story-16921956-detail/story.html

Dangerous Portuguese Man O' War found on Westward Ho! beach
Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A potentially deadly Portuguese Man O' War has washed up on a beach in North Devon.

The jelly-fish like creature was found on Westward Ho! beach on Sunday morning during a voluntary beach clean.

Here's a story about an 8-yr-old who had his leg encircled by a Man O' War's tentacles when he was wading in a rock pool in N. Devon in 2008. There are photos of his injuries. The article points out that the Man O' War is not a jellyfish, but rather a hydrozoan.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/1621506/Man-OWar-stings-Jon-8-off-Devon.html