Summer is showing no signs of letting up on the northern coasts of Spain. Jellyfish, and especially the Portuguese man-of-war , have become the main attraction on the beaches of Cantabria and the Basque Country in recent weeks. Lifeguard services are overwhelmed by the deluge of stings, which have already exceeded five hundred in some areas. The situation has forced the raising of red and yellow flags on several beaches, while bathers eye each wave that reaches the shore with apprehension.
It's not a new phenomenon, but this year the arrival of these organisms has been especially early and massive. Ocean currents, wind, and rising water temperatures are behind this invasion. In Biscay, for example, the average water temperature is around 23 degrees Celsius, a perfect breeding ground for jellyfish to approach the coast. And although the heat isn't the only cause, it does accelerate their reproduction and spread.
The beaches most affected by jellyfish in the north
In the Basque Country, Tuesday, July 14th, saw jellyfish present on three beaches in Biscay : Barinatxe, Arriatera-Atxabiribil, and Bakio. Red flags were flying at the first two, while a yellow flag was raised at Bakio. Las Arenas beach was also flying a red flag. The situation was no better in Gipuzkoa: between Monday the 13th and Thursday the 16th, eight Portuguese man-of-war stings were reported on beaches such as Ondarreta, Zarautz, Zumaia, and Getaria, and one person had to be taken to the hospital.
Cantabria is undoubtedly the hardest-hit region. The Red Cross has treated 299 stings since July 4th , a figure that already represents 62% of all those recorded last summer. Saturday, July 11th, was the busiest day, with 120 people affected, and Monday the 13th ended with 112. The beaches of Santander, Noja, Suances, and Santoña saw the majority of incidents. In the Cantabrian capital, the First and Second Beaches of El Sardinero flew yellow and jellyfish warning flags throughout the weekend.
Portuguese man-of-war: the most dangerous species
Although popularly known as jellyfish, the Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis) is actually a colony of polyps. Its tentacles, which can exceed 20 meters in length , contain a neurotoxic, cytotoxic, and cardiotoxic venom that can cause anything from severe irritation to respiratory problems. In Cantabria, most stings have been mild, but two children, aged one and five, required hospitalization after rubbing the affected area.
Lifeguards warn that the tentacles are almost invisible and can be floating freely in the water , so the danger is not limited to those visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, larger specimens with tentacles up to five meters long are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. In the Basque Country, Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish were sighted on beaches such as La Arena, Barinatxe, Laida, Laga, Arrigorri, and Ondarreta over the weekend of July 10-12, although only two stings were reported.
Recommendations in case of a sting
Faced with a surge in incidents, authorities have activated prevention protocols. The first thing to do is not to touch the jellyfish, even on the sand , as the tentacles retain their stinging ability even out of the water. If stung, go immediately to the first aid station, do not scratch or rub the area, clean it with seawater (never fresh water), and remove any remaining tentacles with tweezers. Applying a cold compress in a plastic bag for five minutes helps relieve the pain.
On beaches where Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish have been detected, lifeguards raise yellow or red flags alongside the jellyfish warning sign and issue announcements over loudspeakers. The general recommendation is to avoid swimming if these organisms are present and, if in doubt, to consult apps like MedusApp or PlatgesCat to check the real-time status of the beaches.
The invasion of jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-war on the northern coast of Spain shows no signs of abating. With hundreds of stings in just two weeks, warning flags flying on more than a dozen beaches, and the expectation that more specimens will arrive, beachgoers will have to coexist with these invertebrates for the rest of the summer. The key lies in prevention, information, and following the instructions of lifeguards to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
