White-spotted jellyfish off the North coast of Haiti. Français : Phyllorhiza punctata, un méduses photographiée au large de la côte nord d’Haïti. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Will we soon be forced to eat jellyfish?
Since the beginning of the 2000s, these gelatinous creatures have invaded many of the world’s seas, like the Japan Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, etc. Is it a cyclic phenomenon, caused by changes in marine currents or even global warming? Until now, the causes remained unknown. A new study conducted by IRD researchers and its partners, published in Bulletin of marine science, exposes overfishing as the main factor.
Jellyfish have free rein
Jellyfish predators, such as tuna and sea turtles, are disappearing due to overfishing. However, jellyfish are primarily taking advantage of the overfishing of small pelagic fish . Just like these cnidarians , sardines, herring, anchovies and more feed off zooplankton. Thus, they represent their main competition for food. In areas where too many of these fish are caught, they free up an ecological niche . Jellyfish now have free rein and can thrive. Furthermore, small fish eat the eggs and larvae of jellyfish. Therefore, under normal conditions, they regulate the population . In their absence, there is nothing to stop the proliferation of these gelatinous creatures.
Comparison as proof
In order to demonstrate the major role played by overfishing, researchers compared two ecosystems belonging to the same ocean current, the Benguela, which flows along the south of Africa. The first ecosystem is located off the coast of Namibia. Here, fish stock management measures are not very restrictive. The stocks are barely restored before fishing activities start up again. Jellyfish are currently colonising these coastal waters. The second ecosystem is located 1,000 km further south, off the coast of South Africa. Here, the opposite is true: fishing has been tightly controlled for 60 years. The jellyfish population has not increased.
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Overfishing
- NGOs demand action as EU fails to protect season January 18, 2021 at 9:56 am
The EU has also failed to end overfishing and to protect marine habitats from bottom trawling, she said. “What we really need to do is go from strategies and goals and action and outcomes. National ...
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The marine biodiversity groups have demanded a ban on bottom trawling: fishing that drags huge nets along the sea floor.
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Environmental groups propose urgent plan to stop overfishing and safeguard marine life, as existing laws go unenforced ...
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PM Two years ago, a law banning the wasteful practice of tossing unwanted fish overboard came fully into effect in European waters. But a study reveals the law, intended to reduce overfishing, has led ...
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Calls to increase marine reserve around Little Barrier Island to stop overfishing. Credits: Newshub. Fish and birdlife in the Hauraki Gulf are under increasing threat from commercial fishing and ...
- MSC - World missing out on nutrition for 72 million people due to overfishingon January 7, 2021 at 5:00 pm
MSC says managing fisheries sustainably would increase global food supply The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - an environmental not-for-profit - says the world is missing out on enough protein to ...
- World Missing Out On Nutrition Due To Overfishingon January 6, 2021 at 10:21 pm
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – an international non-profit on a mission to end overfishing – says the world is missing out on enough protein to meet the yearly needs of 72 million ...
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Fisheries
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Political expert Liam Campling says that the EU have 'run rings around UK on fisheries' in their post-Brexit trade deal.
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