Two conferences aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of jellyfish and marine biological diversity issues will be held on May 22 and 23 by the University’s Department of Biology to mark the UN International Day for Biological Diversity.

The conference on May 22 will focus on jellyfish diversity, the cause and effects of their blooms on the marine environment, jellyfish stings effects and treatments. It will also look at coastal biodiversity and the marine research being undertaken to understand the relationships between environmental variables and jellyfish proliferation and potential mitigations.

The second conference on May 23 will consider important impacts and solutions to jellyfish blooms in relation to fisheries, aquaculture and maritime activities.

The conferences will gather experts in the various fields relating to jellyfish. Interested stakeholders, including fishermen, sea-users, doctors, researchers active in environmental protection, biodiversity research, marine conservation, first aid and medical treatment of stings, stings treatment research, dissemination and awareness of jellyfish role in our marine environment and potential impacts when in large blooms, are urged to register for the conferences by Friday. Attendance is free.

The conferences are being funded by the ENPI Med-Jellyrisk project. The project is coordinated by Prof. Stefano Piraino of Consima and University of Salento, Lecce, Italy, and is partnered by scientists from the University of Malta’s Department of Biology, the IOI-MOC, ICM-CSIC, Spain, and INAT and FSB Tunisia.

For further details contact conservation biologist Dr Adriana Vella on e-mail adriana.vella@um.edu.mt, jellywatchmalta@gmail.com or call 9942 9592.