The direction and strength of sea surface currents and temperature at various distances from the mouth of Mellieħa Bay are being surveyed to obtain data to validate models that can simulate the spread of jellyfish blooms and predict their presence in coastal areas.

The measurements are being taken by three sea drifters, consisting of a surface buoy and a one-metre-deep subsurface drogue. The drifters can be tracked in real time on a web interface.

The deployment of the drifters was organised by the Physical Oceanography Unit (PO-Unit) of the University of Malta’s Department of Biology as part of the Med-Jellyrisk project. It complements the deployment of three drifters in open water north of Gozo in October 2013 as part of the same project.

The jellyfish dispersion model will form the basis of a prototype system to provide early warning of jellyfish swarms impacting Malta’s beaches, which is being finalised by staff at the PO Unit, including Alan Deidun, Adam Gauci and Anthony Galea, under the coordination of Aldo Drago, with the help of foreign experts.

Every summer, an estimated two million bathers worldwide are stung by jellyfish. Mediterranean coasts are facing increasing jellyfish outbreaks due to various factors, including maritime transport, discharges and climate change. The project aims to assess the socio-economic impact of jellyfish blooms and tries to implement counter-measures to mitigate this ever-increasing problem.

The project is implementing an integrated coastal management approach in 10 marine coastal zones in the western and central Mediterranean Sea to introduce measures and solutions against jellyfish proliferations.

The other partners in the project come from Italy, Spain and Tunisia. The project is 90 per cent funded under the ENPI-CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme 2007-2013, that is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and 10 per cent from national funds.