Rare concentration of 'blue button' jellyfish reported near Marsalforn
An abnormally high density of 'blue button' jellyfish around Marsalforn in the past few days. Hundreds of the minute, but unmistakable (in view of their ethereal blue and perfectly spherical bodies), blue button (Porpita porpita) individuals were observed in a small area, clinging on to, and possibly feeding on, tentacles of the mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca).
The Spot the Jellyfish team at the University of Malta said the blue button is normally a rare occurrence in Maltese coastal waters and was first recorded from such waters in 2010 by a French girl holidaying in Malta, from Dwejra in Gozo.
The species is normally considered as a tropical one, being known from tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and hence its proliferation in the Mediterranean Sea might be another sign of warming of the Mediterranean Sea.
The blue button is almost innocuous (since its tentacles might just cause some mild irritation to human skin) and strictly speaking is not a jellyfish as it belongs to the same group as Velella velella (By-the-wind sailor), with floating colonies consisting of several individuals, the team said.
The Spot the Jellyfish initiative is coordinated by Dr. Alan Deidun, Prof. Aldo Drago and staff of IOI-MOC, and enjoys the support of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and of Nature Trust, Friends of the Earth, EkoSkola, the BlueFlag Malta programme and Sharklab.
http://www.science20.com/citizen_science_journal/jellyfish_reporting_citizen_scientists_malta carried an extensive feature on the Maltese initiative.
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17 Comments
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Mark Bailey
Jul 23rd 2012, 21:20
There was a good article in Newsweek recently which attributed the great increase in Jellyfish to overfishing and other factors. So as often is the case the general public suffers so for the personal gain of small number of individuals.
David Farrugia
Jul 23rd 2012, 15:53
Yesterday, Ghadira bay was host to some small but nasty stingers:
http://www.oceancaresolutions.com/blog/clinging-jellyfish-can-be-very-painful-but-is-it-a-jelly-the-g-vertens
Christine Bailey
Jul 23rd 2012, 14:34
Is the spot the jellyfish initiative still on? Children can have fun and learn at the ebach at the same time. I visited the site http://oceania.research.um.edu.mt/jellyfish/stats.html but it seems there are no recent statistics.
Alan Vassallo
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:50
How about forging a new law with regards to discharge of commercial vessel ballast water which could most probably be the reason why species which could harm the ecosystem are being introduced?
Joe Degiorgio
Jul 23rd 2012, 14:41
Such laws exist. If they're enforced effectively; well that's another issue to which I have no answer.
George Farrugia
Jul 23rd 2012, 21:00
Dangerous species are introduced to the Med not only through ship's ballast, but also from sources once does not usually expect to harm the environment....such as the Maritime Museum of Monte Carlo.
You may read about possibly the biggest threat to the Med by going to the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caulerpa_taxifolia
Matthew Farrugia
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:46
the sea surrounding us have so many beautiful creatures ... have a look at http://matfar.co.uk/ to see for yourself what lies around us
Joseph Sultana
Jul 24th 2012, 16:54
Nice Site Matthew....
Brandon Spiteri
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:40
a win win being innocuous and feed on mauve stinger :) - We should take care of these creatures and educate people not kill them like they do with other jellies ;)
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01423/Mauve_stinger_jell_1423912c.jpg
Karl Consiglio
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:20
Sabiha immens.
Sandra Balzan
Jul 24th 2012, 00:24
I agree with you it looks amazing and such beautifull colour
Edward Curmi
Jul 23rd 2012, 12:58
"The blue button is almost innocuous "
Jo Camm
Jul 23rd 2012, 12:56
If they attack only 'blue eyed' boys I do not need to worry.
I Vella
Jul 23rd 2012, 12:41
Are they harmful?????
T Mifsud
Jul 23rd 2012, 12:59
"The blue button is almost innocuous (since its tentacles might just cause some mild irritation to human skin)"
Tarcisio Bonello
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:00
Well - funny you should ask being a Vella - it seems as if the person who was 'bitten' by the jelly fish couldn't pronounce Vella properly - in fact he named them Velella velella.... so they must have been painful and have hit a nerve somewhere.
but seriously .... :)
A Dimech
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:01
The blue button is almost innocuous (since its tentacles might just cause some mild irritation to human skin) and strictly speaking is not a jellyfish as it belongs to the same group as Velella velella (By-the-wind sailor), with floating colonies consisting of several individuals, the team said.
Just read the article :)
Please choose the reason of your report below: