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Marine biologist Alan Deidun has expressed his “grave concern” at the number of nomadic jellyfish off Tunisia.

The stinger, known as Rhopilema nomadic, has been recorded along the coast in very large densities of 10 to 100 per 1,000 square metres.

Since first entering the Mediterranean Sea in 1977 through the Suez Canal, the jellyfish, which inflicts a painful sting, has formed extensive blooms in the Levantine, stretching for hundreds of kilometres in some cases.

Two nomadic jellyfish were recorded in Maltese waters in 2005, but there have been no sightings of the same species in local waters since then.

However, Dr Deidun believes Maltese coastal waters should be regularly monitored for any increasing presence of jellyfish in view of its detrimental ecological and economic impact.