Interview with May Gómez on Cadena Cope – 02/26/2025
Dr. May Gómez (ECOAQUA-ULPGC) recently detailed on COPE Canarias how the project utilizes drones and intelligent drift buoys to predict the arrival of the Portuguese Man-o’-War (Physalia physalis) at our shores. Unlike common jellyfish, this organism is a floating colony with a much more potent venom, and its movement is dictated by the complex interaction between trade winds and ocean currents.
Through collaboration with experts in intelligent systems (SIANI), the study aims to anticipate which beaches—particularly those facing North and East—will be affected, especially during the peak abundance period between February and March. Beyond the technology, the research highlights that the decline of sea turtles, their main natural predator, is a key factor in the increasing presence of these colonies across the archipelago.
Interview with May Gómez on Cadena Cope – 02/28/2025
In an interview with Cadena COPE, Dr. May Gómez explained how the PHYSALIA project uses drones and drift buoys to predict the arrival of the Portuguese Man-o’-War in the Canary Islands. This colonial organism, more dangerous than a common jellyfish, drifts with winds and currents toward the northern and eastern coasts, especially between February and March.
Investigadores de la ULPGC siguen a la peligrosa carabela portuguesa para predecir su llegada a la costa – Canarias 7 – 24/02/2025
Here is the Canarias7 front page from February 24, 2025, featuring the news story on ULPGC researchers tracking the Portuguese man‑of‑war to improve forecasts of its arrival to the coast, highlighting the visibility and relevance of the PHYSALIA project.
La ULPGC estudia la ruta de las carabelas portuguesas – La Provincia – 24/02/2025
The PHYSALIA project has launched its first observation campaign in Gran Canaria, led by ULPGC in collaboration with UniOvi and ICMAN‑CSIC, to study the navigation patterns of the Portuguese man‑of‑war and improve predictions of its arrival to the coast using drone observations and advanced modelling.
Interview with José Luis Acuña on Al Norte Asturias – 19/03/2025
Interview with José Luis Acuña on the origins and mission of the PHYSALIA project on the program ‘Bienvenidos al Norte.’ An overview of Portuguese man o’ war monitoring in the Cantabrian Sea through citizen science. (Audio starts at 36:00).
La ULPGC analiza la navegación de carabelas portuguesas en Gran Canaria para mejorar las predicciones de su llegada
Europa Press reports on research carried out by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) within the PHYSALIA project, focusing on the drifting and navigation of the Portuguese man o’ war around Gran Canaria to improve arrival forecasting and coastal management.
ECOAQUA participa en un estudio novedoso de ámbito nacional en el que se observará la navegación de carabelas portuguesas
Tribuna de Canarias highlights Ecoaqua’s participation in a novel national-scale study within the PHYSALIA project, focused on monitoring and analysing the drifting and navigation of the Portuguese man o’ war to improve understanding of its coastal dynamics.
ECOAQUA participa en un estudio novedoso de ámbito nacional en el que se observará la navegación de carabelas portuguesas
La Laguna Ahora reports on Ecoaqua’s involvement in an innovative national-level study within the PHYSALIA project, aimed at observing and analysing the drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war to improve knowledge of its coastal dynamics.
ECOAQUA participa en un estudio novedoso de ámbito nacional en el que se observará la navegación de carabelas portuguesas
El Blogo Feroz reports on Ecoaqua’s participation in an innovative nationwide research study within the PHYSALIA project, focused on observing and analysing the drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war to improve coastal understanding and prediction.
La ULPGC analiza la navegación de carabelas portuguesas en Gran Canaria para mejorar las predicciones de su llegada
La Vanguardia covers research led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) within the PHYSALIA project, analysing the drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war around Gran Canaria to improve prediction of coastal arrivals.
Investigan en Canarias la carabela portuguesa con ayuda asturiana
La Nueva España reports on research conducted in the Canary Islands within the PHYSALIA project, with the participation of the Asturias Marine Observatory (Observatorio Marino de Asturias), focused on studying the drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war to support prediction models and improve coastal risk management.
👉 Full article:
https://www.lne.es/asturias/2025/02/24/investigan-canarias-carabela-portuguesa-ayuda-114614537.html
In a television interview on Buenos Días Canarias (Televisión Canaria), May Gómez, head of the EOMAR group at ECOAQUA (ULPGC), presents the launch of the first observation campaign of the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) in waters around Gran Canaria within the PHYSALIA project. The study involves the Asturias Marine Observatory (University of Oviedo), the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC), and the use of drifting buoys and drones to analyse sailing patterns and improve coastal arrival predictions.
RTPA reports on a study led by the University of Oviedo in collaboration with the Asturias Aquarium and IEO-CSIC, focused on analysing and forecasting the arrival of the Portuguese man o’ war along the Asturian coast as part of the PHYSALIA project.
In Conexión Asturias, a TV report starting from minute 40 highlights how BIOPARC Gijón Aquarium has joined the scientific study of the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis) after receiving the first live specimens collected on Xagó beach, contributing to ongoing research within the PHYSALIA project.
👉 Full video:
https://www.rtpa.es/video:Conexion-Asturias_551753396723.html
In an interview on Más de Uno Gijón (Onda Cero), starting from minute 48, José Luis Acuña discusses the presence of the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis), current scientific monitoring efforts, and the importance of research and coordination to better understand and manage its arrival on the coast within the framework of the PHYSALIA project.
The BIOPARC Gijón Aquarium announces its incorporation into the scientific study of the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis), contributing to research and monitoring efforts underway within the framework of the PHYSALIA project following the arrival of specimens on the Asturian coast.
👉 Full article:
https://acuariogijon.es/el-bioparc-acuario-de-gijon-se-suma-al-estudio-de-las-carabelas-portuguesas/
La Nueva España reports on the participation of researchers from the Gijón Oceanographic Centre (IEO-CSIC) in the Physalia Asturias campaign within the PHYSALIA project, aimed at improving knowledge of the biology and drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war to better predict its arrival on the Asturian coast.
👉 Full article:
https://www.lne.es/gijon/2025/08/19/investigadores-centro-oceanografico-gijon-participantes-120760116.html
RTPA reports that lifeguards in Gijón have received specialised training and equipment to safely manage the presence of the Portuguese man o’ war on local beaches, as part of broader scientific and preventive actions linked to the PHYSALIA project and coastal risk management.
La Voz de Asturias reports on research carried out by scientists from Asturias within the PHYSALIA project, focused on studying the biology and movement of the Portuguese man o’ war to better understand its distribution and improve predictions of its arrival on the Asturian coast.
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) reports on its participation in the PHYSALIA project through research activities focused on improving scientific understanding of the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis), contributing to monitoring efforts and better prediction of its coastal occurrence.
RTPA features a radio report on the PHYSALIA project, in which researchers from the University of Oviedo, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) and BIOPARC Gijón Aquarium investigate the biology and drifting behaviour of the Portuguese man o’ war, aiming to better understand its presence on the Asturian coast.
👉 Full audio report:
https://www.rtpa.es/audio:Reportajes-RPA.-Proyecto-Physalia:-investigando-la-carabela-portuguesa_1754639028.html
La Nueva España reports on the Portuguese man o’ war as an increasingly recurrent visitor to the Asturian coast, with scientists linking its presence to changes in oceanographic conditions and warming waters that are altering marine circulation patterns.
👉 Full article:
https://www.lne.es/asturias/2025/08/07/carabela-portuguesa-visitante-aprovecha-cambio-120414520.html
Onda Cero features a radio interview on Más de Uno Gijón, starting from minute 47:45, with Susana Acle (BIOPARC Gijón Aquarium) and José Luis Acuña (University of Oviedo), discussing current research, monitoring efforts and public awareness related to the presence of the Portuguese man o’ war within the framework of the PHYSALIA project.
El Comercio reports on the first Portuguese man o’ war sightings of the summer on the Asturian coast, with several specimens collected and transferred to BIOPARC Gijón Aquarium, where they contribute to research, monitoring and public awareness activities related to this species.
👉 Full article:
https://www.elcomercio.es/gijon/primeras-carabelas-portuguesas-verano-asturiano-alimentan-acuario-20250722180144-nt.html
Arizona State University’s Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) highlights international research within the PHYSALIA project aimed at predicting the arrival of the Portuguese man o’ war, using field observations, drifting models and oceanographic data to understand how winds, currents and climate change drive its seasonal movements and coastal impacts.
👉 Full article:
https://bios.asu.edu/currents/predicting-arrival-portuguese-man-o-war
The Royal Gazette reports on an international research effort within the PHYSALIA project to predict the appearance of the Portuguese man o’ war, combining fieldwork in northern Spain with drifting models and comparative studies in regions such as Bermuda and Hawaii to improve forecasting and coastal safety.
👉 Full article:
https://www.royalgazette.com/environment/news/article/20251112/scientists-work-to-predict-man-of-war-appearances/
ECOAQUA reports that the EOMAR research group has launched a new PHYSALIA field campaign, aimed at improving prediction of the Portuguese man o’ war’s arrival at the coast by combining field observations with drifting devices and oceanographic data.
ECOAQUA reports on how the PHYSALIA project is extending its impact from laboratory and field research to primary school classrooms through the Blue Schools initiative, bringing marine science closer to students and promoting ocean literacy from an early age.