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Issue:- Thursday, 22 September 2016

Headlines and reports on this page = 3 news items.    Page - 8.

Stinging Portuguese Man of War wash up on UK shores

THE marine charity Marine Conservation Society (MCS) are warring beach visitors not to touch a bizarre stinging creature that's not a single animal, but a floating colony! The MCS have received reports of several Portuguese Men of War, washing up on beaches in Cornwall and Scilly Isles, just weeks after authorities in Ireland warned local beach goers about a spate of recent stranding of this potentially dangerous floating sea creature. This dangerous visitor also often fins its way onto Merseyside's beaches, when this happens, due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream hitting our coastline. The group are warning that the stings can be exceptionally painful and in extreme cases fatal. This is not a bag or a

MCS says the Portuguese Man of War (Physalia physalis) are only occasionally reported in UK waters with the last significant UK strandings of the species occurring in 2009 and 2012.

“We don't receive reports of Portuguese Man of War every year, but when we do they can turn up in big numbers, usually around about this time of year. In the last couple of weeks we've received several confirmed reports of Portuguese Man of War stranded on beaches around Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. With the earlier strandings in Ireland, these recent sightings could herald the arrival of more of the creatures as they get blown in from the Atlantic.”
said Dr Peter Richardson, Head of the MCS Biodiversity Programme.

The Portuguese Man of War isn't a jellyfish, but is closely related, and consists of a floating colony of hydrozoans; lots of really tiny marine organisms living together and behaving collectively as 1 animal. A Cornish pasty shaped, transparent purple float is visible on the water's surface whilst the blue, tentacle like 'fishing polyps' that hang below the float can be tens of meters in length.

“It's the tentacle like polyps that can give an agonising and potentially lethal sting. Because a stranded Portuguese Man of War looks a bit like a deflating purple balloon with blue ribbons attached, children will find it fascinating. So, if you're visiting a Cornish beach this weekend it's well worth making sure you know what these animals look like and that no 1 picks them up. We'd like people to report any sightings of Portuguese Man Of War to our website so we get a better idea of the extent of the strandings."
said Dr Richardson.

1 of the animals was found recently at Portheras Cove, near Morvah, Cornwall, by volunteers of the Friends of Portheras Cove environmental group. Delia Webb from the group says it was found during a beach clean, lying among the plastic debris that had blown in on the high tide:- "We find all sorts of strange and unusual items at our tiny Cornish cove, and we have had strandings of Portuguese Man of War before. They look amazingly beautiful, with hints of pink and blue, but thankfully we were aware of the potential danger lying beneath, and knew not to poke or prod it, just report the sighting to the MCS.”

If you spot a Portuguese Man of War then report the sighting immediately, ideally with a picture, to the charity's website, where a Jellyfish ID Guide, which includes the Portuguese Man O War, can also be downloaded from the site.

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Deceased estates notice - Lilian May Jackam

Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925, any persons having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of Lilian May Jackam (also known as Lillian May) Jackam (Deceased), late of Birch Abbey Rest Home, 55 Alexandra Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 9HD, UK, who died on 04/10/2018, are required to send particulars thereof in writing, to the undersigned Solicitors, on or before 24/05/2019, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests of which they have had notice. Churches Solicitors, 12 High Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 7BL, UK. Ref:- 'T553015.'

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