A blue and gelatinous tide has invaded the Alghero coast. Nothing anomalous or mysterious: there are thousands of velella velella , small sail-shaped oceanic jellyfish which, transported by the wind, have washed ashore on the shore, coloring the Alghero coasts bluish.
From Speranza to Bombarde in recent days the lifeless masses of coelenterates have forcefully made their presence felt due to the stinky stench, distinguishable from several tens of meters away. It is a natural phenomenon. Favored by the currents, jellyfish swarm towards the Mediterranean coasts.
Due to this particular way of moving the velelle are commonly known by the name of "Barchette di San Pietro". They live in the temperate and warm waters of all oceans, proliferating in certain periods, and forming with their dense assemblages oily and bluish spots that are easily detectable even from afar.
«A first group had already arrived during March, all young specimens. Now, however, they are all adults. Specimens even measuring 6/7 cm", writes the biologist and naturalist Roberto Barbieri on his social page. «They are relatives of jellyfish and move on the surface of the sea driven by the wind (they float and have a sail-shaped fabric, hence the name). It is very likely that fishing (decrease in their predators), together with the increase in sea temperature, favors the high reproduction of this species."
