Jellyfish approach Spanish coast

Jellyfish are beautiful and delicate creatures but they can also be deadly. A new study, carried out by Oceana, an international organisation for the protection of the marine environment, warns that – because of climate change – the number of jellyfish on Spain’s coastline could rise dramatically in the coming years.

Oceana researcher Marta Madina says: “The natural habitat for jellyfish is more than 20 miles away from the coast. But now they are getting closer to the coastline because of rising temperatures, pollution – which is food to jellyfish – and lack of fresh water, all of which have changed the oceanographic conditions of the sea.”

Increased numbers of jellyfish on Spanish shorelines is bad news for tourism at some of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. Researchers found concentrations of Pelagia Noctiluca, commonly known as Mauve stinger, along the Spanish coast.

For more information about Oceana see “www.oceana.org/index.php?id=1588&L=0:”
http://www.oceana.org/index.php?id=1588&L=0

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tags: Climate, Environment