Is the Portuguese Man O’ War Found in Spain?

The Portuguese man-of-war inhabits mainly warm tropical and subtropical waters around the world, but can also be present in more temperate waters. They are a type of pelagic animal, meaning they live in the open sea. Although they are not known to be native to any particular place, they are mainly distributed throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. This includes areas of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and even the Florida Keys.

As we mentioned in the introduction, the Portuguese man o' war has venomous tentacles which can provide a sting. This sting is particularly painful and the bluebottle is known to be dangerous to humans. Extreme caution must be taken in its presence, especially if they come towards the coastlines where there are greater human populations.

To answer the question posed by this article, Portuguese man o' war can be found in Spain. Despite not being known for inhabiting the Mediterranean, there are some rare sightings on various Spanish coasts. This includes the Atlantic side as well as the Mediterranean. Records indicate that their presence has been increasing over time. Generally speaking, where one of these organisms is sighted, more tend to appear.

The reason sightings of the bluebottle are becoming more common in Spanish waters is due to different factors, but it is believed to be influenced by climate change. As sea waters become warmer, the Portuguese man o' war finds these waters more habitable. Increased temperature can also change sea currents, leading to these animals drifting further in different directions.

Portuguese man o' war season in Spain

The occurrence of sightings of the Portuguese man-of-war in Spain has increased towards spring and summer. This is when the waters tend to become warmer and weather conditions are favorable for their arrival on the Spanish coasts. This species lacks a propulsion system, so its mobility is passive, relying on water currents and winds to be transported from open waters to coasts. They can causing massive strandings and risks for bathers.

There are historical records of the entry of the Portuguese man o' war into the Mediterranean, which most frequently occurs through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. Monitoring these areas is essential to track the species.

We have already explained that the Portuguese man o' war is not a type of jellyfish, but perhaps you would like to discover the most dangerous jellyfish in the world with our related article.

The Portuguese man o' war has been spotted in various maritime areas. Sightings have occurred in the following places:

1. Gulf of Cádiz and Strait of Gibraltar: these areas are entry areas from the Atlantic Ocean. Winds and currents facilitate their arrival to these coasts, causing strandings in certain cases.
2. Mediterranean Coast: sightings are common in the maritime areas of Andalusia, Valencia and Barcelona. They are observed particularly in the summer months when water conditions favor their permanence.
3. Balearic Islands: their presence on these coasts is less common, but when certain meteorological conditions arise, it is common for them to drag the Portuguese man o' war to these islands.
4. Canary Islands: the Government of the Canary Islands has also recorded the presence of the Portuguese man-of-war in the waters of these islands.

The presence of the Portuguese man-of-war in Spain has been recorded for years. A study was published in 2022 detailing the costal cities and regions where this species of hydrozoa has been spotted^[1]. They include the following:

• Grenada
• Murcia
• Ceuta
• Cadiz
• Malaga
• Almeria
• Alicante
• Barcelona
• Balearic Islands
• Valencia
• Castellón

Beaches of Spain

Some of the beaches that have been reported to have the highest risk of the presence of the Portuguese man o' war are:

1. Galicia (Lugo): Área Pequeña y de Remior beaches.
2. Asturias: Aramar, del Puntal, de Lastres, de La Atalaya, de Barru, de Peñarrubia, de Santa Gadea, de la Isla y de La Espasa beaches.
3. Cantabria : Cerrías, Aramal, El Puntal, Trengandín and La Salvé beaches.
4. Catalonia (Tarragona): Altafulla, Tamarit and les Madrigueres beaches.
5. Valencian community (Castellón): Casablanca beach.
6. Alicante: Levante, Gran and Acequión beaches.

If you'd like to discover some more of the dangerous waters which can be found in some of these areas, check out our guide to the different sharks of the Mediterranean.

The tentacles of the Portuguese man o' war are loaded with nematocysts. These are cellular structures filled with venom that is used to paralyze its prey. In the case of humans, this substance generates severe pain and an allergic reaction in the affected area. It requires immediate medical attention. An important aspect is that the tentacles detached from the organism continue to release poison, meaning they should never be touched even if the animal is dead.

In this way, if you see a Portuguese man o' war, you should follow these recommendations:

• Keep your distance: if you see one in the water, get out as soon as possible. Also stay away from any which have washed up on the shore.
• Inform the authorities: notify lifeguards or the police in the area, as this allows them to monitor the coast and take control measures to avoid accidents. Generally, beaches are closed until it is proven that there is no longer the presence of these organisms.
• Portuguese man o' war sting protocol: it is important a person who has been stung immediately gets out of the water. Carefully and using tweezers, remove the tentacles that are attached to the skin. Never remove them with a naked hand hand. You can also wash the area with sea water, but do not rub it directly. Apply heat and go immediately to a medical center because specialized care is required.

Now that you know where the Portuguese man-of-war is in Spain and what to do if you see one, you may want to discover some of the animals from Spain which are native to the country.

If you want to read similar articles to Is the Portuguese Man O’ War Found in Spain?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.