Readers have already reported the presence of small jelly fish on the Costa Tropical, namely in Motril and Almuñécar.

Their appearance really depends on the currents; whether they are coming from further inside the Mediterranean (Levante) or whether they are coming from the mouth of the Med (Poniente).

If the predominant wind and current is coming from the east (warmer water), it brings jellyfish with it whereas if it is coming from the west (cooler water) it keeps them away.

That is a very simplified explantion but it works as a rule of thumb.

Another factor is that it depends on whether it rained much during their reproductive season – the more rain; the more nutrients enter the sea via the rivers.

Owing to records going back almost 200 years, marine biologists know that the surges in numbers works in circles of between ten and twelve but owing to overfishing causing a reduction in the number of their natural predators, and increase in fertilisers reaching the sea via rivers, these cycles are becoming shorter.

The most common species of jellyfish floating off our beaches are Pelagia noctiluca or mauve stingers (although when they are young they are closer to brown in colour).They can grow as large as 20cm across their ‘bonnet’ or cap. What we have mostly seen in previous summers have been swarms of much smaller ones.

If you are stung you should remove any parts of the tentacle left on your skin using sea water (not fresh water) and then apply bicarbonate. if the pain persists, then go to the medical centre. The lifeguards and Protección Civil on duty on our beaches know how to deal with normal stings – people’s bodies react differently.

Now we also get the Rhizostoma luteum or barrel jellyfish, which are much larger and can reach 60cm in diameter (two feet) and they trail tentacles up to two metres behind them – nasty!

Lastly, if you do manage to hook a jellyfish out, don’t leave it on the sand or bury them because their ‘stings’ remain active some time after their death. What you should do it take it to the first-aid post and they will dispose of it.

(News: Costa Tropical)