Holidaymakers looking forward to enjoying a sunny beach day on one of Lanzarote’s picturesque beaches have been dealt a blow as authorities have prohibited swimming following the discovery of several venomous sea creatures. On Sunday (July 27), emergency services confirmed the presence of five or six specimens of this rare and striking species at Famara Beach in northwest Lanzarote, which is commonly found in tropical and temperate waters.
Blue dragons (Glaucus atlanticus), also known as Atlantic Sea Slugs, carry toxins that can cause severe skin irritation, redness, swelling, and allergic reactions upon contact. Enrique Espinosa, head of the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium, warned that the number of specimens found on the shore suggests more could be present in the surrounding waters. As a precaution, a red flag has been raised at Famara Beach. Lifeguards have been inspecting the beach since early Monday morning, and the Teguise Cabildo has begun installing warning signs to inform beachgoers of the potential risk, according to the Canarian Weekly.
Canary Island authorities are warning residents and tourists to avoid contact with the blue dragons, even if they appear motionless or stranded. Even if they appear motionless, they can still deliver painful stings – similar to those from jellyfish.
Blue dragons are typically found floating on the ocean’s surface in warm and temperate waters. They use the ocean’s currents and wind to move around. While they are more common in certain parts of the world including Australia and South Africa, sightings along other coastal regions, such as the Canary Islands, have also been reported.
The blue dragon is a small but visually striking species of marine mollusc – commonly known as a type of sea slug. It has an eye-catching blue and silver body with delicate wing-like appendages (cerata), giving it a dragon-like appearance. It is small, usually around three centimetres.
The blue dragon does not produce its own venom. Instead, it feeds on venomous creatures like the Portuguese Man O’War (a jellyfish-like organism) and stores the venom in its own body, specifically in the tips of its cerata. When threatened or touched, it can release the venom, which is often more concentrated than the original source, causing painful stings in humans.
Last October, a similar incident occurred in Lanzarote’s neighbour island, Tenerife, when several blue dragons washed up at the beaches of El Médano and Leocadio Machado. The Granadilla de Abona Council raised purple flags in response, aimed at signalling the presence of harmful marine wildfire.
Famara Beach, known for its impressively expanse of sand and strong winds and waves – one of the longest in the archipelago – and is a popular destination for watersport enthusiasts, including surfing, kite surfing and windsurfing. The beach is situated within the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park and is backed by the Risco de Famara cliffs. Due to its conditions, Famara is often closed to swimmers as a result of strong waves and currents.