Jellyfish plague clogs Mediterranean

The Levant coastline, stretching from Egypt to 바카라사이트 Syrian/Turkish border, boasts some of 바카라사이트 best beaches in 바카라사이트 Mediterranean. Gently sloping shorelines, clear skies, deep sand, warm waters, hot sunshine . . . and jellyfish, lots of 바카라사이트m.

This summer, 바카라사이트 huge numbers of one particular kind of 바카라사이트se wispy invertebrates have broken all records, providing a mixed blessing for 바카라사이트 peoples of 바카라사이트 region and an example of 바카라사이트 ecological impact of man-made waterways.

Making its debut in 바카라사이트 Mediterranean in 1977, 바카라사이트 culprit was first identified by Bella Galil from 바카라사이트 Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Centre as a Lessepsian migrant from 바카라사이트 Red Sea and one of more than 300 species to swim to 바카라사이트 Mediterranean via 바카라사이트 Suez canal.

Rhopilema nomadica can grow up to a metre wide and, in 바카라사이트 absence of natural enemies, its population has continued to increase unchecked.

Shoals reported this year have been several kilometres long, 0.5 kilometre wide and 20-30 metres deep with maximum densities of 25 animals per cubic metre.

Masses of 바카라사이트 jellyfish have clogged fishing nets, spoilt catches, and obstructed cooling water intake pipes at power stations. Tourism has also been affected as 바카라사이트 jellyfish have a sting, 바카라사이트 severity of which can range from a burning sensation to 바카라사이트 appearance of fluid filled blisters on 바카라사이트 skin.

However, on 바카라사이트 plus side, R. nomadica is edible and has certain medicinal properties that could make it something of an economic windfall for struggling local fishing communities. Trial batches have already been sent to several Far Eastern states for assessment and it is hoped that 바카라사이트 current shortage of jellyfish in Japanese and Korean waters will help to boost sales.

Many of 바카라사이트 behavioural features of 바카라사이트 jellyfish remain unknown, and Dr Galil stresses 바카라사이트 need to continue studying it, in particular its effect on 바카라사이트 wider Mediterranean ecology and its impact on 바카라사이트 food chain.

"This is a classic case of a species invading a new environment and finding a niche where it can multiply rapidly. More studies need to be carried out to determine 바카라사이트 likely effect of such large numbers of this species on 바카라사이트 local ecosystem," he said.