Dutch 
French 
German 
Norwegian Bokmål 
Polish 
Swedish
This striking phenomenon tends to appear after storms, especially around this time of year.
Anyone visiting the beaches of Torrevieja on Friday, particularly El Cura, or the shores of Guardamar del Segura, Cala Bosque, or Cala Capitán in Orihuela Costa, undoubtedly noticed the large blue patches spread across the sand.
At first glance, it looks like a polluted stain, but a closer look reveals that it’s made up of living organisms.
According to the Orihuela Council, these creatures are a harmless species known as velella, sometimes mistaken for jellyfish.
Technically, they’re not true jellyfish but colonies of hydroids. Because they pose no risk to humans, experts advise against removing them from the beach.
The Velella velella, often called “by-the-wind sailors” or “Saint Peter’s boats,” are identified in the ‘Jellyfish and Gelatinous Organisms Guide’ as a common species in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They have oval, translucent discs that can be up to 8 centimetres in length and are topped with a distinctive blue-purple sail.
Despite being harmless, the mayor of Guardamar del Segura, José Luis Sáez, has advised beachgoers not to touch their eyes or mouths after handling them, as irritation is possible.
These organisms have been spotted along much of the Spanish coast, from the Costa Brava all the way down to Cabo de Palos in the Murcia region.
Dutch French German Norwegian Bokmål Polish Swedish
