Mysterious Sea Creatures Found Nesting in Discarded Coffee Cup on Welsh Shore
A routine litter-picking expedition on a picturesque Welsh beach turned into an extraordinary marine discovery for a mother and daughter duo, who stumbled upon bizarre jelly-like organisms concealed beneath a piece of plastic waste.
Unusual Beach Discovery During Cleanup Effort
Chloe Hench, a teacher and author, was assisting her daughter in collecting rubbish from Llanddona beach on the Isle of Anglesey when they made their puzzling find. While lifting an overturned plastic coffee cup lid from the wet sand, they noticed several peculiar, translucent blobs sheltering inside.
"The plastic lid was upside down in the wet sand – it looked as though it had been dropped," Chloe recalled. "I picked it up to put it in the bin not realising there were creatures inside."
Initially, the pair speculated that the sci-fi resembling organisms might be sea slugs, but they remained uncertain about their true nature. Chloe described the moment her daughter interacted with one, saying: "My daughter touched one gently as she didn’t believe me they were alive, and it sort of shrank into itself a bit."
Expert Identification Reveals Invasive Sea Squirts
Seeking answers, Chloe posted photographs of the discovery on social media, where an underwater photographer provided crucial insight. The expert identified the creatures as sea squirts, specifically a large variety known as Ciona intestinalis.
These soft, tubular organisms, which can grow up to 20 centimetres in length, are common in shallow waters around the United Kingdom. Despite their harmless appearance, they are classified as an invasive species capable of disrupting local ecosystems.
The photographer characterised the sea squirts as "opportunistic colonisers" that settle on virtually any available surface. "They’re much prettier when expanded and filter feeding. Totally harmless but can aggregate in huge quantities," the expert added, highlighting their potential to form dense populations.
Ethical Dilemma Leads to Leaving Creatures Undisturbed
Faced with the dilemma of removing litter versus disturbing the marine life, Chloe and her daughter chose to leave the coffee cup lid and its inhabitants on the beach. "I left it where it was, which I felt bad about, but I didn’t want to upset them," she explained.
Reflecting on the encounter, Chloe noted the creatures seemed content in their makeshift habitat, remarking: "They did seem very happy. There were a few of them in that tiny space!" This incident underscores the unexpected intersections between human pollution and marine biodiversity, even on local shores.
