Malta is taking part in the CIESM JellyWatch Phase II programme set up in 2009 to gather baseline data on the frequency and extent of jellyfish outbreaks across the Mediterranean Sea.
The programme is currently implemented in coastal sectors in various Mediterranean waters.
Conservation biologist Adriana Vella, who is the focal point of the programme in the Maltese islands, said that while jellyfish and jelly-like invertebrate species were a natural feature of the Mediterranean Sea, “jelly blooms” were rare episodes until the last eight years, when massive swarms of gelatinous organisms became a frequent sight in coastal waters.
Such events represented a nuisance for swimmers, and in the case of certain species might become a real health hazard.
They were considered a pest by fishermen, as they clogged nets, kept away fish and consumed fish larvae.
In recent years, a number of industrial marine cooling systems had to be put temporarily out of order as jellies clogged the underwater pipes.
From an ecosystem perspective, the apparent increase and synchrony of jellyfish outbreaks in western and eastern Mediterranean basins were sending warning signals of a potential phase shift from a fish to a “gelatinous sea".
Although overfishing, coastal habitat degradation and climate warming were among the most probable drivers, the specific causes and mechanisms were not well identified, and the lack of reference data made any further investigation difficult.
After a successful pilot test phase that focused on general records of jellyfish involving the public in various ways, a common, standardised protocol, including systematic recording of presence/absence data, has been adopted for both coastal and open sea sightings of jellyfish swarms in the whole basin, enabling an unbiased assessment of the geographic and temporal scale of these mass events so as to allow in time trend analysis and short term forecasting of jellyfish bloom transport.
Local sea-users, fishermen, divers, swimmers, tourists, councils and non-governmental organisations will be contributing to complement a detailed international programme, which sees data gathered in Maltese waters contribute to Mediterranean-wide research, coordinated by the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM).
CIESM was created to promote international research in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. It acts as a focus for the exchange of ideas, the communication of scientific information and the development of scientific standards across the basin.
The knowledge gained may allow Mediterranean countries deal with current conditions and problems.
Anyone wishing to receive a JellyWatch Poster or take active part in this programme by making available sighting records of jellyfish blooms when out at sea or around Maltese coasts may e-mail: JellyWatchMalta@gmail.com or contact Dr Vella at the university’s Department of Biology.