Spot the jellyfish

Children, youngsters, teachers and parents are being invited to help the marine environment by recording the presence and location of various jellyfish species in Maltese coastal waters.

The initiative is being taken by IOI-KIDS, which aims to increase awareness, especially among younger generations, about the local diversity of jellyfish species, through a hands-on exercise involving the reporting of sightings of jellyfish that often swarm close to our shores and beaches.

In so doing this initiative will supply useful data for local marine scientists and tourist authorities through a citizen-science approach, while also helping bathers avoid stinging jellies.

The initiative is coordinated by Aldo Drago, the director of the IOI-Malta Operational Centre of the University of Malta, and enjoys the support of Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Nature Trust, EkoSkola, the BlueFlag Malta programme and the Friends of the Earth.

The jellyfish sightings are reported on a dedicated colourful leaflet that is being distributed to thousands of children in schools and on the beaches.

With the support of the MTA, a large poster is being projected on boards along major bays in Malta and Gozo.

The submit a report, participants fill in the leaflet to match the jellyfish with a simple visual identification guide, give the date and time of the sighting, indicate the number of jellies seen, and submit by post or online.

Reports can otherwise be sent by: SMS (7922 2278) or e-mail (ioi-moc@um.edu.mt). Participants stand to win prizes and token gifts.

The initiative is being launched on June 4.

www.ioikids.net

www.ioikids.net/jellyfish