A family on a fishing trip off the coast of Scotland was left stunned after sailing into a massive "sea of jellyfish." Daniel Macleod, 37, and his twin sons Max and Jake encountered a dense, thick mass of thousands of moon jellyfish in Dunbeath Bay, Caithness.
Unexpected Encounter
Macleod and his boys had set out from Dunbeath harbour for handline fishing for mackerel when they immediately noticed an unusual number of jellyfish. "We started noticing jellyfish immediately after leaving the harbour - there were a lot more jellyfish than normal," Macleod said.
As they entered Dunbeath Bay, the water became a carpet of moon jellyfish. "We went a little bit further to where we would normally put our handlines down, and it was just this dense, thick mass of jellyfish," he added.
Excitement and Concern
Macleod's sons were amazed by the sight. "My sons were very excited - they've seen jellyfish when we've been out before, but normally just an odd one or two. They were amazed by this sheer carpet of jellyfish - a sea of jellyfish is what they called it," he said. Macleod, an experienced fisherman, noted, "It was quite unbelievable to see - it was something that I've certainly never witnessed in my years of being fishing."
Despite the awe, there were concerns about the boat's water intake system, which draws seawater to cool the engine. "There is a potential of the water intake being blocked," Macleod explained. Fortunately, the boat passed through without issue.
Impact on Fishing
The jellyfish swarm affected their catch. "It was definitely harder fishing - we didn't catch anywhere near what we would normally, so something was a little bit different in the waters," Macleod said.
After posting footage on social media, friends and family reacted with shock. "I think people were quite shocked and amazed that we have this on our doorstep," Macleod said. "It's definitely rare - but we've seen a couple of rare sightings out here in Dunbeath Bay. Last year, we saw a fin whale right beside the boat, then a beagle shark as well. Things are a little bit different in our waters here in Dunbeath for some reason."
Jellyfish in UK Waters
The moon jellyfish is the most common jellyfish in UK seas, often washing up on beaches, according to The Wildlife Trusts. This species does not sting and can be recognised by its round, dome-shaped translucent body with four purple circular markings. Scotland's coastal waters host several jellyfish species, with blooms peaking in summer. While most stings are mild, species like the Lion's Mane and Compass jellyfish can inflict severe, painful stings. The Marine Conservation Society tracks UK sightings and urges the public to report encounters.
