News
Jellyfish head to Med
09 August 2006
High numbers of jellyfish are being recorded in the Mediterranean.
Marine research organisation Oceana said the reason for the increase in jellyfish numbers was "unclear and unknown".
Some explanations put forward include a rise in sea temperatures, an increase in the level of nutrients in the water because of coastal contamination and reduction in predators due to overfishing.
Ricardo Aguilar, director of research for Oceana in Europe, said on board the organisation's research catamaran off Spain: 'We have found jellyfish all over the Mediterranean, but in this area we've seen concentrations of more than ten jellyfish per square metre.
'Wherever we look, there is practically nowhere without jellyfish.'
In Spain, some beaches have been closed to protect tourists from being stung and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 people have been stung by the invertebrates.
The areas of the Mediterranean most heavily affected are the Spanish coast, Scilly and parts of North Africa.
© Adfero Ltd
Marine research organisation Oceana said the reason for the increase in jellyfish numbers was "unclear and unknown".
Some explanations put forward include a rise in sea temperatures, an increase in the level of nutrients in the water because of coastal contamination and reduction in predators due to overfishing.
Ricardo Aguilar, director of research for Oceana in Europe, said on board the organisation's research catamaran off Spain: 'We have found jellyfish all over the Mediterranean, but in this area we've seen concentrations of more than ten jellyfish per square metre.
'Wherever we look, there is practically nowhere without jellyfish.'
In Spain, some beaches have been closed to protect tourists from being stung and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 people have been stung by the invertebrates.
The areas of the Mediterranean most heavily affected are the Spanish coast, Scilly and parts of North Africa.
© Adfero Ltd
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