If it were up to me, this story about a freak attack by a giant swarm of jellyfish in Ireland would have been stripped across page one. Banner headline, 36 point type. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and it found a modest slot inside the A section.

Still, it provided plenty of thrilling and, once you've worked through all of the jokes about 1950s mutant monster flicks, rather frightening Thanksgiving dinner conversation. (Does anyone else remember "The Crawling Eye?" My brothers used to torment me with that one.)

The only salmon farm in Northern Ireland has been thrown into crisis following a devastating jellyfish attack that destroyed more than 100,000 fish.

John Russell, the managing director of Northern Salmon Co. Ltd., said last night: "In 30 years, I've never seen anything like it. It was unprecedented, absolutely amazing. The sea was red with these jelly fish and there was nothing we could do about, it, absolutely nothing."

Last week's attack lasted nearly seven hours, with the small jellyfish stinging and shocking salmon held in an area covering 10 square miles and 35 feet deep.

Workers in three boats tried to reach the cages to rescue the salmon, but the extreme density of jellyfish slowed their progress through the water, and by the time they reached the cages it was too late.

That's right. Ten square miles of jellyfish, 35 feet deep. The sea was so thick with jellyfish, the boats couldn't get through.

These jellies usually stick to southern waters but, with ocean temps rising, are finding their way north. Far north.

Scientists say the Irish attack is the result of climate change, which the guy in the White House calls science fiction.

By all means, let's do another study.

photo: UK Telegraph