Jellyfish are an odd creature inhabiting the oceans of our planet. Most of us only know them as the creatures who burn our feet when we step on them on the sand, or hit them in the ocean.
Well, the once humble jellyfish is experiencing a massive population boom and the ocean is littered with massive swarms of jellyfish, posing threats to swimmers, fishing and the nuclear power industry. Evidence of the immense population boom can be seen in the Black Sea, where 1,000 fish sized jellyfish can be found in one cubic meter, during a blooming period for the species. This massive swarm eats the eggs of fish and wipes out the food of the entire sea, causing hardship for the fishermen. Even captured fish can be killed when a jellyfish is caught in the net, and these swarms are also clogging the engines of boats on the Sea and in the oceans.
This is a problem that has only been getting worse. Roughly 500,000,000 jellyfish weighing 450 pounds each are hitting the Sea of Japan on a daily basis, and Australian beaches are overrun with the jellyfish. Tourist beaches across the planet are being closed on a more frequent basis as more and more jellyfish begin to appear and take over the shorelines.
On top of all this, jellyfish are beginning to clog water intake pipes of nuclear power plants, causing some to have to shut down, including one in the Philippines that caused 40,000,000 people to sit in darkness.
Jellyfish are called the cockroaches of the sea because they can thrive under many conditions, and are now experiencing population booms because of the changes in the oceans, brought on by man-made influences. The jellyfish is linked to ocean pollution, and in areas called ‘dead zones’, where there is little oxygen because of pollution, jellyfish dominate as the only species able to survive there. As well, the only enemies jellyfish have are sea turtles, and all but seven species of sea turtles are listed as threatened, in decline or endangered.
The warming seas from global warming are also allowing the jellyfish to spread wild and thrive.
With most fish stocks expected to be extinct by 2048, all that may be left in the once thriving oceans will be jellyfish, and try as we might, I don’t think we will ever see that on the menu at a restaurant.
The jellyfish are an early warning sign of the effects of global warming and man on our oceans. Unless we do something now, our oceans could become dominated by the jellyfish, making it one of the most dominant species on the planet.
I had no idea that there were that many jelly fish and that they could cause those kinds of problems. I also never knew that they could get to 450 pounds. Interesting article.
Although at times beaches experience a glut of jellyfish, this number is stratospherically beyond the pale. I hope that there will be a plan of action soon, and a heightened sense of purpose to help our poor polluted ocean.
Its time for we to stand up and work towards the solution. There has to be a holistic solution to this problem. People should stop eathing non-veg food. Use public transport. save energy by using what is necessary and not what one wishes to. plant more trees and conserve them.
scary stuff… something drastic needs to be done as the delicate balance of marine ecology is being upset by this new pest.
reminds me of “War Of The World” movies.. attacks by giant jellyfish
as the bible states the end is near…as you may notice when the rain is near and feel the breeze and you can tell spring is here/ the signs are all amongst us that the end is near..ocean will take its place
I was watching a show on jellyfish tonight and it is a major problem. Japanese fisherman are catching nets full of large jellyfish which they slaughter and then toss back in the ocean. A researcher found that slaughtering them is the worst thing you can do because it releases huge amounts of sperm and eggs which then go on to multiply. Even a tiny little jellyfish can kill a human and these things are found in many places including Hawaii and Australia.