Although summer has not yet recorded record temperatures, jellyfish have already appeared in our seas. From Liguria to Puglia, without forgetting the islands, major ones such as Sardgena and Sicily, and smaller ones such as the island of Elba. Everywhere there has been a real invasion. But the fault would be intensive fishing
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Despite thesummer has not yet registered temperature record, jellyfish they have already peeped into our seas. From Liguria to Puglia, without forgetting the islands, major ones such as Sardgena and Sicily, and smaller ones such as the island of Elba. Everywhere there has been a real invasion. But the fault would be intensive fishing.
Having already ascertained that climate change and pollution are two of the main causes of the increase of jellyfish in our seas, we also lacked intensive fishing. As he explained Ferdinando Boero, professor of marine biology at the University of Salento, in charge of scientific monitoring of the species, this year's jellyfish boom is linked to the scarcity of fish in the sea.
"We have the fish species that feed on plankton are depleted; there are fewer larvae and jellyfish therefore have fewer competitors for their diet. And so they grow and multiply ”is the expert's explanation. Not all evils come to harm. "The novelty, as happened with mushrooms, is that bathers have become familiar with these marine species, they know for example that the most stinging ones have long tentacles, and come to appreciate the beauty of harmless specimens," said Boero.
For this, Focus has made a portal available, meteomeduse.focus.com, also available via app for smartphones and tablets where you can report the jellyfish, stinging or not, sighted. A kind of science experiment dedicated to citizens useful according to Boero to involve them and inform them about jellyfish, stimulating "literacy on environmental issues, an action on which the European Union is also orienting itself after having ascertained that there is no culture of nature in Europe".
There is also one on the site page dedicated to the various species of jellyfish, in order to help bathers to distinguish them by signaling their presence.
“Jellyfish move vertically, so they can stay on the surface and they can sink to the bottom. They are animals that move, and often go where currents lead them. There are no predefined rules: you can find them everywhere. Because jellyfish are part of the plabncton and move with the current. They can swim but are unable to counteract the motion of the currents " added Boer.
Noticing them is not always easy, but it is certain that they are not the ones to attack, but it is the man who also bumps them inadvertently. Anyway, in case of a sting here are a few advice to relieve the discomfort and natural remedies in case of sting.
Francesca Mancuso
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