This morning, I caught the tail end of a fascinating conversation on BBC Radio Cornwall between Anoushka Williams and Dan Barrio-O’Neill from Cornwall Wildlife Trust — and it’s stayed with me all day. The topic? Jellyfish.
Not what I expected to be inspired by on a weekday morning (Giant Jellyfish, not Radio Cornwall!), but as soon as I heard “bees of the sea,” (Credit to Anoushka Williams, Radio Cornwall) I was hooked. Anoushka and Dan were discussing just how vital jellyfish are to our marine ecosystems — especially here in Cornwall.
Not Just a Sting in the Sea
Despite their sting (I splash for the shore if one presents itself on my dips!), jellyfish aren’t the aliens I thought they were at all. They’re at the centre of a delicate marine food web, supporting creatures like crabs, sea cucumbers, and other arthropods that live on our sea beds.
“They’re part of a rich, intricate system — and their presence is a positive sign.” That’s made me feel a little better about my fear Dan!
Dan described himself as “a jellyfish enthusiast and a guru of marine food webs,” his passion was infectious!
He spoke about how changing sea temperatures could disrupt this ecosystem — a reminder that climate change isn’t just about weather patterns or polar bears, but about the tiny, often overlooked species that hold everything together.
So What Do You Do If You’re Stung?
Turns out, much of what we’ve been told about what to do is a myth! If you do get stung by a jellyfish:
- Don’t rinse the sting in fresh water — this can trigger more stinging cells
- Do rinse with sea water first
- Use a credit card to gently remove any visible tentacles
- Then immerse the sting in hot water (as hot as you can handle) for around 30 minutes
In most cases, jellyfish stings are no worse than nettles. Unpleasant but easily managed. (Dan suggested to be more wary of Mauve stingers and Portuguese man o’ wars though – the latter being a colonial organism that drifts rather than swims)
A Smack, A Bloom, or Something New?
A bloom of jellyfish is common, though apparently a smack of jellyfish is also accepted (and mildly hilarious). I’m still thinking about what I’d call them. A shimmer? A pulse? A mystery?
On Team Jelly
I didn’t expect to start the day thinking about jellyfish — and I definitely didn’t expect to end it with a whole new appreciation for them.
So here I am, officially on Team Jelly. Dan explained “they provide habitat & shelter” as well as their movement “introduces nutrients into the surface layers”, simply fascinating. Whether you spot a moon jelly drifting off the Cornish coast or just admire their part in our precious ecosystem, these creatures deserve more credit than they get. Sadly, they are generally washed up when coming in to feed and then realise they are not great swimmers. Thanks so much Dan & Anoushka for such an interesting topic.
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Final Thoughts
Inspiration strikes in the strangest places — quite often on Radio Cornwall for me! Here’s to being curious, open, and always learning something new (even about jellyfish). If you’re near the sea, keep an eye out — not just for safety, but to celebrate the natural magic that’s right on our doorstep.
Grab a coffee and listen to the discussion for yourself here
#Cornwall #MarineLife #Jellyfish #Teamjelly
#NatureCuriosity #SustainableLiving #ClimateAwareness #OceanLife