Swarms of jellyfish close to Mediterranean seashores had been worrying native authorities and vacationers throughout summer time 2024. However are these animals rising in numbers?
Bobbing on the floor of the waves or letting themselves be carried by the present, jellyfish are among the many oldest creatures within the oceans.
Nonetheless, they’re more and more seen as an issue: some scientists have noticed that so-called ‘jellyfish blooms’ are occurring extra regularly.
A ‘bloom’ is a fast, non permanent enhance in jellyfish copy charges. It will possibly result in gigantic clusters composed of lots of of hundreds of those marine animals.
Two components have been recognized as contributing to this pure phenomenon: local weather change and human influence on the seas, corresponding to overfishing.
Each have created higher situations for jellyfish, which might thrive in environments the place different species battle to outlive.
On the identical time, jellyfish blooms are having unfavourable results on each human and marine life.
These swarms of sea jellies can compete for meals with fish, injury fishing nets and coastal infrastructure, and pose a risk to swimmers.
The Spanish Mediterranean is among the areas the place scientists have noticed rising numbers of jellyfish. Information from 11 Catalan seashores reveals that, in the summertime of 2024, 43% of seaside accidents had been attributable to jellyfish stings.
In an try to seek out options, specialists are shifting their focus, utilizing jellyfish as a useful resource or attempting to mitigate the basis causes of their proliferation.
However some scientists are advocating for a extra cautious method, not least as a result of jellyfish even have a constructive function to play of their ecosystem.
Watch our explainer above to seek out out extra.
Journalist • Cristina Coellen
Video editor • Jean-Christophe Marcaud
