Britain’s current plummeting temperatures could lead to another jellyfish invasion

Britain’s current plummeting temperatures could lead to another jellyfish invasion, experts in Birmingham have warned.

Last year a ‘mega swarm’ of jellyfish washed up on the UK coastline.

Now, thanks to extreme weather brought on by the ‘Beast from the East’, it’s feared a repeat invasion could be under way in months to come.

Jonny Rudd, curator at the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham, says weather conditions could again prove perfect this year for blooms of jellyfish to arrive on our shores.

He said: “With such intense winter conditions, it’s likely an extreme summer could follow. Scientists are concerned the ‘crazy’ current conditions are a prelude to more extreme and less predictable weather. This is where jellyfish thrive.”

“Just last week researchers from Newcastle University published a paper reporting on how floods, droughts and heatwaves are all set to become more common in Britain and the rest of Europe.

“Jellyfish flourish in conditions created by global warming, pollution and overfishing, as evidenced by their invasions onto UK coastlines as recently as last year.

“Jellies are superbly adapted to plug the gaps when other species decline, which is one reason why there have been such huge swarms of jellyfish appearing in recent years.

“Some scientists believe that jellyfish are even poised to take over the oceans one day.”

Last year thousands of giant jellyfish washed up on beaches in Cornwall and Wales.

Beachgoers were advised not to touch any of them as even a dead one can sting.