Rise in jellyfish numbers spells doom for marine ecosystem

The occurrence, officials from the forest department said, was not a unique one as the area has been witnessing a significant rise in jellyfish numbers. Inedible and highly poisonous, most of the jellyfish are of no use to the fishermen. 

Contact with them can cause skin problems and it is difficult to remove them from fishing nets. The increase in jellyfish population, however, is a matter of concern for marine lives, said officials. Speaking to DT Next, Mandapam Forest Ranger S Sathish said, “Jelly fish feed on small and medium sized fish. 

Hence, if its population increases significantly, it will destroy a large part of the fish population and thereby affect the entire marine ecosystem.” He also said that usually turtles feed on jellyfish and the rise in jellyfish numbers shows that turtle numbers had decreased substantially in Gulf of Mannar. 

Fishermen, claimed Sathish, have a big role in turtle deaths. “When turtles get caught in the nets, fishermen simply severe the flaps of the turtles. With the severed flaps the turtles cannot not swim and ultimately die,” he said. Fishermen should try saving turtles to stop proliferation of jellyfish as if it is left unchecked, the jellyfish would eventually lead to lesser fish haul and hence reduce livelihood for the fishermen.