Jellyfish blooms were rare episodes in the Mediterranean until the last eight years, when massive swarms of gelatinous organisms have become a frequent sight in coastal waters. Although overfishing and climate warming are amongst the most probable drivers, the specific causes and mechanisms are not well identified, and the lack of reference data makes any further investigation difficult.
The new CIESM Jelly Watch Programme shall gather for the first time baseline data on the frequency and extent of jellyfish outbreaks across the Mediterranean Sea.
Coastal users (fishermen, divers, tourists) but also ferry passengers, are invited to report sightings of jellyfish swarms (see poster for species) with information on the location, type and extension of the observed swarms. Records are sentkey scientists who act as focal points in different regions. After accurate screening and validation of the records, data will be centralized and integrated in the CIESM Metabase.
National JellyWatch Focal Points:
Croatia - Adam Benovic, University of Zagreb
Israel - Bella Galil, IOLR
Italy - Ferdinando Boero, Univ. del Salento: boero[at]unile.it
CIESM Jellywatch Program website
Boero et al. 2008 "Gelatinous plankton: irregularities rule the world (sometimes)" Mar Ecol Prog Ser 356: 299–310.
