# Spain jellyfish monitoring and mitigation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spain-jellyfish-monitoring-and-mitigation
> Updated: 2026-07-31T09:47:51.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

The free MedusApp platform, launched in early July 2026, now provides a crowdsourced, real‑time map of jellyfish sightings across Spain. By the end of July the app had already reached 700,000 downloads and added an interactive web map; reports are vetted by an AI model trained on thousands of images and reviewed by an expert committee. Recent data show the Mediterranean species Cotylorhiza tuberculata overtaking Pelagia noctiluca as the most frequently reported sting risk.

Concurrent field work in the Gijón region has deepened the testing of anti‑contamination barriers. Researchers from the Gijón Aquarium, the University of Oviedo and the Oceanographic Center, supported by the municipal Environment Department, collected Portuguese caravelas from San Lorenzo and El Arbeyal beaches, rehabilitated them in the aquarium, and released them into a test basin surrounded by two barrier designs. The trials compare performance on calm versus high‑wave beaches.

In parallel, the Cangas municipality received a new shipment of buoys for 18 local beaches after appointing a new contractor. The buoys are being installed at sites such as Rodeira, Areamilla and Melide to improve navigation safety and beach organization for the summer season.

Together, the expanding digital monitoring network, the refined barrier experiments, and the upgraded beach‑marking infrastructure illustrate a coordinated, multi‑sector response to jellyfish hazards along Spain’s coastlines.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: MedusApp jellyfish alert app tops 700,000 downloads, launches interactive map

Spain's MedusApp jellyfish warning app, built by UPV and the University of Alicante, has over 700,000 downloads and now offers an interactive map that visualises real‑time sightings, verified by AI and experts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medusapp-jellyfish-alert-app-tops-700000-downloads-launches-interactive-map

### 2026-07-21: Spain tests jellyfish barriers and adds new beach buoys

Spain launches tests of anti‑contamination barriers using Portuguese jellyfish in Gijón and installs new buoys on Cangas beaches to improve safety.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-tests-jellyfish-barriers-and-adds-new-beach-buoys

### 2026-07-01: MedusApp launches free jellyfish‑watch map for Spanish beaches

MedusApp offers a free map and guide for Spanish beaches, letting users see real‑time jellyfish reports, risk levels and treatment tips.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medusapp-launches-free-jellyfishwatch-map-for-spanish-beaches

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Cite as: Spain jellyfish monitoring and mitigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spain-jellyfish-monitoring-and-mitigation