Washed Up on the Beach

[Admin]

Today, while combing the beaches in Ukee and Tofino, we came across something I have never seen before. These appear to be small Mussel remnants, with these amazing blue colours mixed in with skeletal looking opaque remains as well. Is this an annual thing that we have just never seen due to timing of this event or is it unusual?

 

[Bragg]

Actually a hydrozoan (related to jellyfish). Velella velella, or By The Wind Sailor.

We were in Haida Gwaii years ago and trolled thru a "school" that looked to be kilometers in diameter. There must have been hundreds of thousands of them. Very cool.

Five Facts About Velella Velella - Pacific Beach Coalition

Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors, have returned to Pacifica. This article explores what they are and how they arrived here.

www.pacificbeachcoalition.org

 

[pescador]

Saw that in Nootka back in 2013/14. Miles of small purple/ish jelly fish. Thick. Quite small. Absolutely everywhere. It was early July tho. The locals had never seen them before.

 

[ship happens]

Wonder what they are like when they dry out

 

[Bragg]

Wonder what they are like when they dry out

Chewy...

 

[JWS]

Trolled through large rafts of these things in and around Vernon bay a few weeks ago

 

[kaelc]

Yeah years back saw them on the beaches in Tofino. Cool to see them again!

 

[eroyd]

They stung my dogs pads when he walked on them at Long Beach.

 

[Samnjoe]

They were thick of Winter Harbor a few years ago. Also seem them out of Westport Tina fishing