New invasion of jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea

The number of jellyfish in the Mediterranean is growing. According to the 'Occhio alla medusa' project, there have been from 300 to 3 thousand sightings. Summer, therefore, does not start off on the right foot.

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

The number of jellyfish in the Mediterranean is growing. According to the 'Occhio alla medusa' project it has gone from 300 to 3 thousand sightings. Summer, therefore, does not start off on the right foot.

According to the research, in fact, in just 6 years, from 2009 to 2015, sightings have increased by 10 volte, with a substantial peak in 2013 which recorded reports of hundreds of bathers.

What are the causes of this invasion by jellyfish? Multiple factors: from the greenhouse effect which brings tropical species in the Mare Nostrum up to overfishing fish, their competitors for feeding. Finally, the increase in the availability of substrates suitable for the settlement of the initial phase of their biological cycle.

The project created to keep the phenomenon of jellyfish proliferation under control was born within the International Commission for Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea (CIESM) thanks to the collaboration of Marevivo. Both the scientific communities but also the common bathers were involved.

“We have seen that jellyfish can arrive suddenly and just as suddenly disappear. These apparitions are hardly ever scientifically recorded. The distribution and operation of marine biologists is not such as to be able to faithfully appreciate these phenomena. The jellyfish, especially the larger ones, are clearly visible and the few species of direct importance to humans are easily identifiable ”, reads the project website.

We are well aware that they exist different types of jellyfish, here are the ones to keep an eye on according to Marevivo because they irritate and can do a lot of harm. Among the most dangerous is the Carybdea marsupialis, a relative of Australia's killer jellyfish.

Pelagia noctiluca