EIGHT species of jellyfish have been recorded in Dorset so far as they continue to wash up along the coast. 

The barrel jellyfish is probably the most common but there have also been frequent sightings of the moon, compass and blue jellyfish so far this summer.

Bournemouth Echo:

Picture by James Hankins

The 'jellyfish invasion' story one newspaper didn't want you to read (hattip SamSmith in the comments for the link)

See pictures of the weird and wonderful jellyfish taken by readers in a gallery 

Dr Peter Richardson, biodiversity and fisheries programme manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “We usually get about 500-600 sighting reports of jellyfish a year but in recent years it has risen. In 2014 we got about 1,400 records and in 2015 so far, most of these reporting’s have been barrel jellyfish.”

The barrel jellyfish is one of the largest that has been seen in Dorset, with huge swarms being spotted along the south coast in April.

Barrel jellyfish, which grow up to an impressive 1 metre wide and weigh 25kg (the same weight as a suitcase), despite their size, can give a very mild sting, even when dead.

The Marine Conservation Society is advising members of the public not to touch any jellyfish they find but to report the sighting on their website www.mcsuk.org so that they can identify the species correctly.

The longer sunnier days, warmer sea temperatures and an upwelling of nutrients from the bottom of the sea create an increase of microscopic plants and animals. This is a fabulous food source for jellyfish, which could explain the rising number of sightings so far this year.

The unprecedented invasion of jellyfish may also be due to over fishing which leaves fewer predators to eat them when they are young and smaller. However, Marine Conservation Society says that they do not have enough evidence to say that the rising numbers of jellyfish are down to one particular thing.

Dr Peter Richardson said: “The large number of barrel jellyfish washing up on our shores is unusual. Jellyfish are able to survive mild winters; they sink to the bottom of the sea and survive until the summer, when they are joined by all the new jellyfish. It’s like a snowball effect.”

Have you spotted a jellyfish? Email your pictures to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk