A family on a fishing trip off the coast of Dunbeath, Scotland, encountered a vast gathering of jellyfish, leaving them amazed. Daniel Macleod, 37, took his twin boys out on their small boat for mackerel fishing when they unexpectedly sailed into a dense cluster of moon jellyfish in Dunbeath Bay, Caithness.
Daniel recounted their experience, stating that they noticed an abundance of jellyfish immediately after leaving the harbor, far more than usual. Upon reaching Dunbeath Bay, they were met with a carpet of moon jellyfish, describing it as a sea of jellyfish. Despite concerns about the boat’s safety passing through the swarm, they navigated through without any issues.
The fishing expedition was affected as they couldn’t catch their usual amount of fish due to the presence of the jellyfish. Daniel explained that the boat draws water from the sea to cool the engine, and the dense mass of jellyfish posed a risk of blocking the water intake. Although nothing happened to the boat, fishing was notably more challenging than usual.
Sharing the footage on social media, Daniel received surprised reactions from friends and family. He highlighted the rarity of such an occurrence in their local waters, mentioning previous sightings of a fin whale and a beagle shark in Dunbeath Bay. Scotland’s coastal waters are known for various jellyfish species, with the Marine Conservation Society monitoring sightings and advising the public to report encounters.
Moon jellyfish, a common species in UK seas that doesn’t sting, can often be found on beaches. Recognizable by its round, dome-shaped jelly with four purple circular markings, moon jellyfish are part of the diverse marine life in the region.
