At first, just a few of the floating jellies made their way to the surface in Newport Harbor, catching the eye of passengers on a passing Duffy boat as the translucent sea creatures pulsed with the rhythm of the ocean.

More of the moon jellies suddenly made their way to the sea’s surface, with hundreds of the gelatinous creatures suddenly blanketing the harbor water’s surface in an awe-inspiring sight.

The moon jelly bloom was spotted Wednesday, Aug. 20, in a tucked-away area of the Rhine Channel.

Jessica Brasher, director of husbandry at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point , said adult moon jellies often collect in harbors in large numbers due to their unique life cycle and their planktonic lifestyle.

As plankton, weak-swimming adult moon jellies are easily swept into bays and harbo

See Full Page