STINGING jellyfish have been spotted off Dorset's shores- but swimmers have been urged not to panic.

Spring saw the return of the harmless barrel jellyfish to the area and these have been spotted in their hundreds in areas such as Portland Port.

But last week, wildlife campaigner and photographer Steve Trewhella saw three different jellyfish species in local seas and two can sting.

The moon jellyfish, like the barrel jellyfish, is harmless.

However, the compass jellyfish and the blue jellyfish do sting and can cause painful welts.

Anyone who spots them should proceed with caution, says Mr Trewhella, but stressed their is no need to panic.

"Rather than run screaming from the water and staying away from the sea, we should embrace our marine bio-diversity, observing from a safe distance, or simply standing on piers and quay sides," he said.

Compass jellyfish can grow more than three meters of stinging tentacles and have turned up in 'reasonable numbers' in the sea off Chesil.

The venom in the stinging cells is very strong and can produce painful, long lasting welts in humans.

Blue Jellyfish sting effects include intense hurtful pain, welts, and a rash while in extreme cases it can cause vomiting, fever, sweating, chills, swelling of the lymph nodes, back and abdominal pain.

The sightings come as the passengers of a yacht had to be rescued after the engine was clogged by a barrel jellyfish.

Crew members from Wyke Coastguard Rescue Team

rescued the passengers from the yacht which was stranded in Weymouth harbour on Sunday afternoon.

It had been on its way to Lyme Regis but suffered engine failure.

It is believed that the problem was caused by the intake or partial intake of barrel jellyfish.

The species have been sited in areas such as Weymouth, Portland, east Dorset and Lyme Regis.

The passengers and the yacht, all of which had been properly equipped for the journey, were successfully recovered by the coastguards.

The giant jellyfish can grow up to 90cm (35in) wide and weigh as much as 25kg (55lb), while their tentacles can reach lengths of 6ft (1.9m).

Over the weekend, visitors stood by the side of the harbour to take a closer look at the jellyfish.

Southampton University student Alarna Moles was visiting her hometown of Weymouth and said she wanted to see 'what the fuss was about these jellyfish' and headed down to Castle Cove Beach at the weekend.

She came across a giant jellyfish, believed to be a barrel jellyfish, and had her photo taken with it.

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