In a world where many marine animals struggle with global warming, pollution and overfishing, jellyfish thrive. What can be done to combat the jellyfish infestation? And how to use marine animals sustainably?
All over the world, jellyfish They bite tourists, clog fishing nets and water pipes. It is even feared that they will replace all the others Marine species. But Professor Jamileh Javidpour, who has been studying jellyfish for more than 20 years, says We still don’t know enough to make such predictions..
Scientists at the University of Southern Denmark are intrigued by this mysterious species that blooms just below the surface of the water. The biomass of these marine jellyfish here is so dense that harms other species.
“There are apocalyptic scenarios of jellyfish bloom, and they are partly true, because the presence of jellyfish can affect the entire ecosystem. However, population-wide changes require a holistic view: what is the effect of other populations that are connected to this element of the food web? We need a kind of adaptive vision for jellyfish blooms, which does not yet exist“, says Jamileh.
Scientists sample water features and use a dip net to collect jellyfish samples. Researchers monitor water temperatures, salinity and other factors to better understand the causes of jellyfish blooms.
It seems that Jellyfish thrive due to overfishing, which eliminates its predators and competitors, and agricultural runoff, which depletes oxygen from the water. Unlike other species, Jellyfish are not bothered by low oxygen levels.
Huge untapped potential
Although jellyfish blooms can be problematic, researchers believe we can find a sustainable use for this gelatinous plankton. For example, jellyfish could be a alternative source of collagen for cosmetics.
They are also excellent for capture microplastic particles, which can help clean our oceans. Jamileh Javidpour coordinated the project GoJelly, financed by the European Unionwho devised a method of using jellyfish mucus, natural or synthetic, to filter wastewater before it reaches the ocean.
“They very actively capture particles, capture them and package them in a biological mucus filter to get rid of them. And that is a pattern that we can learn from nature to devise natural solutions“, Jamileh explains to us.
The possible uses of marine jellyfish are numerous: Researchers at the Institute of Food Production Sciences in Lecce, in the southern Italian region of Apulia, are experimenting with the transformation of jellyfish into fertilizer for plants.
They start from frozen sea jellyfish and dry them in a vacuum to turn them into white powder. In addition to salts, This powder contains valuable amino acids, minerals and other nutrients present in jellyfish that plants can easily absorb. Experiments show that plants grow better with nutrients from jellyfish than with a substrate containing only salts.
Jellyfish could even help cure diseases. Although still in the early phases of research, scientists have discovered bioactive compounds in jellyfish that can cause the death of breast cancer cells under experimental conditions.
“Extracts from these jellyfish have antiproliferative activity in human cell cultures. We have observed that they can reduce the proliferation of cancer cells while they have no effect on non-cancerous cells,” says researcher Antonella Leone.
A new food alternative
And since jellyfish usually end up in fishing nets, why not eat them? In Asia, It is a common practice. The Duo restaurant, in Lecce, is part of a European project that explores jellyfish as food. Chef Fabiano Viva believes that Seafood lovers will enjoy the cooked jellyfish with its intense marine flavor.
“Jellyfish are often frowned upon because they can sting and cause harm. People believe that eating them can also be harmful. Let’s debunk this myth: some jellyfish are not harmful at all. In fact,They are simply delicious!”
“This can be cut into slices and added to a salad, for example. You can do almost anything with it: you can put it in a soup, as we did today, or even roast it,” the chef explains to us, showing the different jellyfish present in your kitchen.
Researchers, led by Dr. Antonella Leone, have developed a safe method to preserve jellyfish without using the aluminum salts common in Asia, but considered harmful in Europe. Instead, they propose using calcium salts, which are safe for consumption and They better preserve the texture of the jellyfish.
Researchers teamed up with chefs to put together a cookbook of jellyfish recipes. But Before jellyfish can be served to the public, they have to be officially approved as food.
“What is needed is the authorization of the European Food Safety Authority to ensure that we offer a safe product to consumers. Furthermore, we must carefully study the entire process, from fishing to preparation, to ensure it is safe and sustainable,” says Dr. Leone.
A sustainable strategy
The sustainability is key: although jellyfish blooms are increasing in seas like the Mediterranean, researchers warn against large-scale fishing for these various species.
We accompanied Dr. Leone on a sampling trip through the Gulf of Taranto, which is home to a beautiful population of barrel jellyfish. We still don’t know these gelatinous creatures and their unique life cycles.. Studies and sampling are being carried out in seas around the planet.
Meanwhile, jellyfish-derived compounds used by industry could be synthesized or based on sustainable production methods, such as jellyfish aquaculture.
Removing too many jellyfish from our oceans before understanding them in depth could put us on a slippery slope that could cause more harm than good to the marine environment.
“I hope that we can continue studying these organisms in depth in their natural environment. If there is the possibility of using a compound that could be useful for humans, must be done sustainably“, says Dr. Leone.
The best way to keep marine life healthy is to address the root causes of their problems, such as climate changethe pollution and the overfishing. Jellyfish have been part of marine ecosystems for the last 500 million years and, with the right balance, They will maintain their rightful place in the natural harmony of our oceans.
