Pollution scare as jellyfish flood port

Marine experts say that the reasons for sudden blooming of jellyfish may be due to sudden increase in temperature. Dr Pravakar Mishra, Scientist, Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management (ICMAM) Project Directorate. 

“This type of jellyfish is the Chrysaora. There have been increased reports from the Port about this bloom. Port areas are conducive because of calmer waters and warmer temperatures. Jellyfish are usually an indicator of pollution. They are highly carnivorous and presence of high food availability such as plankton, fish eggs and larvae attract the species. Usually, they drift with current and might have entered to the harbour area from the coastal waters,” said the scientist. 

Marine biologist Rahul Muralidharan pointed out that there has been a recent spike in the jellyfish blooms, especially close to the shore. “The primary reason for this can be linked to fish decline,” he said, adding that a jellyfish bloom can impact other marine organisms. “Jellyfish are predators and a bloom in one area can prey on all other growing organisms. The jellyfish bloom can also be linked to a general shift in how near-shore eco systems work, which have been drastically changing over the last few years. The changes are due to effluents – both domestic and industrial – into the sea and fishing,” he said. 

Overfishing and trawling could also lead to this phenomenon, explained Dr C Venkataraman, Scientist, Zoological Survey of India. “The overfishing of our marine resources and trawling means that the predatory fish, which consume jellyfish, have declined. Climate change too seems to be one of the many reasons behind this increase,” concluded this expert.