121 jellyfish reports made in June
The mauve stinger
The University's Spot the Jellyfish campaign attracted 121 reports of sighting last month, its first full month of operation.
The campaign is being carried out by the International Ocean Institute - Malta Operations Centre of the University of Malta and sponsored by the MTA. Its aim is to analyse jellyfish sighting, including movements and the species of jellyfish.
Dr Alan Deidun, one of the organisers of the campaign, said that duplicate reports (i.e. sightings referring to the same species from the same beach on the same day) as well as sightings of uncommon jellyfish which were not backed up by photos were pruned out to ensure a high degree of confidence in the reliability of the results.
Of the submitted sightings, 85% referred to the most common jellyfish species in local waters - the mauve stinger - whilst other species sighted by the public include the bluish by-the-wind-sailor (Velella velella), the last sighting and the Portuguese man o' war.
Many other unidentified gelatinous species, normally uncommon in local waters, were also observed by the public, including pyrosomes and comb jellies.
In Malta, the highest number of jellyfish sightings was received from Ghadira, Ghar Lapsi and Sliema, whilst the most popular bays in Gozo for such sightings were Marsalforn, Ramla l-Hamra and Xlendi.
Reports can be submitted to ioi-moc@um.edu.mt">ioi-moc@um.edu.mt) through the dedicated and interactive website (www.ioikids.net/jellyfish) or through sms (79222278).
For uncommon jellyfish species not included in the campaign posters affixed at different coastal sites, Dr. Deidun stressed the need to collect such specimens and to contact the IOI-MOC on ioi-moc@um.edu.mt">ioi-moc@um.edu.mt in order to effect a definite identification of the species in question.
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F.Reinhard
Jul 1st 2010, 02:22
So the MTA (Malta Tourist Authority) is sponsoring the jellyfish report project of the university. 121 jellyfish reports in june is a ridiculus number, because: what is counted? Not the jellyfish number in specific places in specific conditions of wind, current and so on, but the NUMBER OF REPORTS about sighting. I swim in Gozo every second day my 2000m either in Ramla (when southerly winds) or in Hondoq (north-westerly winds). Before driving there in the early evening I get prognostic informations of www.jellyfishmalta.com, who tell me where jellyfish are Not expected. Result: including yesterday in Hondoq I regurlarly met the mauve stinger in great numbers just 20 meters beside the beach within the last 4 weeks (total number about 100!!), although none were expected being there. In Ramla with winds from east/south/west even after notherly winds force 6-7 for days before: NOT ONE yellyfish. (But before I go to Ramla I ask my friends from GAIA first, if they said OK, it was OK.) So what? My detailed observations in only two important bays in Gozo tell me definitively, that the total number has reached the point of no return: no more visitors! What will MTA do??
DAVE Begent
Jul 1st 2010, 01:14
I was in Malta from 5th to 18th June & snorkled every day, seeing Mauve Stingers everywhere except inside Marsaxlokk Bay. I saw them in Long Bay (recieving a very painfull sting), Marfa & off Coast Road the full length.
G Camenzuli
Jun 30th 2010, 20:00
Well lets all keep destroying the ecomarine system by polluting the sea and over fishing (such as TUNA) and there will nothing in the sea but JELLY FISH
F. Mifsud
Jun 30th 2010, 14:21
What reports did you collect? Can we be sure that they are not falsified?
E Bartolo
Jun 30th 2010, 14:36
Did you read the article? .....or just the title??