Scientists claim increasing world jellyfish population is bad sign for planet

by Rich Bowden - Aug 4 2008, 01:26

The growth of jellyfish populations throughout the world's oceans has been linked to global warming, overfishing of natural predators, and an increase in pollution that has depleted oxygen in coastal waters, say Spanish scientists.

Researchers at the Institute of Marine Sciences at the National Research Council in Barcelona have said the increase in jellyfish numbers from Spain to Australia, Japan and Hawaii is a sign of the declining health of the world's oceans.

“These jellyfish near shore are a message the sea is sending us saying, ‘Look how badly you are treating me,’” said Dr. Josep-María Gili, a leading jellyfish expert at the Council to the New York Times.

The scientists blame the overfishing of natural predators of the jellyfish (such as tuna and sharks), pollution, and a warming of the world's oceans partly due to global warming as the cause for the increase in numbers.

The National Science Foundation released a statement saying: “Human-caused stresses, including global warming and overfishing, are encouraging jellyfish surpluses in many tourist destinations and productive fisheries.”

Img: Jellyfish. Credit: denn/flickr

The Foundation has listed Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, the Black Sea, Namibia, Britain, the Mediterranean, the Sea of Japan and the Yangtze estuary as the main problem areas.

“The problem on the beach is a social problem,” said Gili, referring to the problems of the numbers of jellyfish stinging swimmers in shallow waters. “We need to take care of it for our tourism industry. But the big problem is not on the beach. It’s what’s happening in the seas.”

Jellyfish are mostly harmless, though some deadly varieties do exist, and have been described by marine experts as the cockroaches of the sea thanks to being tough, durable and able to survive in damaged environments.

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

Barack H.Aug 4th, 2008 - 21:32:20

I see no reason to comment.

Report this comment

DonAug 5th, 2008 - 15:42:51

Barack's comment is out of line. He needs to calm down and take a moment to introspect and then try again.

Report this comment

TylerAug 6th, 2008 - 19:50:57

I say we start eating jelly fish

Report this comment

annonomasOct 4th, 2008 - 22:07:56

i say that we should look for more preys that can eat jelly fish's so then less of them would would be helping them for global warming!! :)

Report this comment

*sigh*Nov 18th, 2008 - 19:54:16

Jellyfish do not cause global warming. Reducing their numbers will not fight global warming. Finding new predators is as simple as constructing proper fisheries management (easier said then done), so that the jellyfish foe remain and keep jellyfish populations in check.

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

Science

Scientists claim increasing world jellyfish population is bad sign for planet

Talkback

Latest

In The Tech Herald

Site

The Fine Print