Jellyfish swarm northward in warming world - Yahoo! News

 

 

I noticed that there was an increase in the jellyfish over the past couple of summers in Southeast Alaska.  I even saw some really interesting brown jellies, that I haven't seen before.

 

Jellyfish swarm northward in warming world

 

 

 

AP – This Oct. 14, 2009 photo shows a giant jellyfish drifting off Kokonogi in western Japan. Once considered …

 

By MICHAEL CASEY, AP Environmental Writer – Mon Nov 16, 8:37 am ET

KOKONOGI, Japan – A blood-orange blob the size of a small refrigerator emerged from the dark waters, its venomous tentacles trapped in a fishing net. Within minutes, hundreds more were being hauled up, a pulsating mass crowding out the catch of mackerel and sea bass.

The fishermen leaned into the nets, grunting and grumbling as they tossed the translucent jellyfish back into the bay, giants weighing up to 200 kilograms (450 pounds), marine invaders that are putting the men's livelihoods at risk.

The venom of the Nomura, the world's largest jellyfish, a creature up to 2 meters (6 feet) in diameter, can ruin a whole day's catch by tainting or killing fish stung when ensnared with them in the maze of nets here in northwest Japan's Wakasa Bay.

"Some fishermen have just stopped fishing," said Taiichiro Hamano, 67. "When you pull in the nets and see jellyfish, you get depressed."

via Jellyfish swarm northward in warming world - Yahoo! News.