Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
THE sea at La Línea’s Santa Bárbara beach has been declared off-limits after several rare but venomous ‘blue dragons’ were discovered in the shallows.
The tiny but striking marine animals, also known as Glaucus atlantusOn Sunday, bathers reported the presence of. Lifeguards and local authorities then ordered a temporary closing of the beach for swimming.
The warning is still valid for other beaches, including Gibraltar’s Eastern Beach.
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Blue dragons are easily identified by their electric-blue colouring and wing-like appendages, but they are highly toxic to touch – even when washed up dead on the sand.
Contact can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations in children, as well as respiratory problems for those who have respiratory disorders.
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The town hall has asked the public to be vigilant and warned that if anyone sees any more specimens, they should immediately contact lifeguards.
The red flags will remain until further notice.
Santa Bárbara is the first beach in La Línea to be closed because of the creatures, though they have also been recorded in nearby Sotogrande in recent years.
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Experts claim that their appearance along the Spanish coastline is related to increasing sea temperatures. They also say that currents can sometimes drive them away from their normal habitat in open water.
Beachgoers are reminded by authorities not to touch the animals in any way and to seek immediate medical attention if they have been stung.
The Olive Press offers more Cadiz News.
