https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2019/01/07/a-jellyfish-epidemic-has-australian-scientists-wondering-if-climate-change-is-to-be-blamed.html
A jellyfish ‘epidemic’ has Australian scientists wondering if climate
change is to be blamed
By Rick NoackThe Washington Post
Mon., Jan. 7, 2019
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Authorities in Queensland, Australia, were forced
to close beaches across the region over the weekend, amid what local
officials said was a jellyfish “epidemic.” More than 13,000 stings were
recorded in Queensland alone last week, with more than 2,500 people
seeking treatment over the weekend, according to rescue organizations.
While the vast majority of those stings are not life-threatening and
were caused by so-called bluebottle colonies, researchers say that the
number of more serious injuries from less common jellyfish is also at
above average levels.
Some researchers also say this jellyfish infestation could be one more
thing to blame on climate change.
“Unlike other species, jellyfish are stimulated by just about any change
to the ecosystem. So, it’s reasonable to say that the jellyfish might
potentially be responding to the warmer-than-usual weather,” said marine
life researcher Lisa Gershwin, who works with the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, which is Australia’s
national science agency.
While researchers are still examining how much recent heat waves may
have contributed to the current jellyfish bloom off Australia’s coasts,
they can already say with certainty how they got to the beaches: strong
and unusual winds pushing toward Queensland.
Gershwin and other scientists say that the surge in stings is unlikely
to be coincidental. “Jellyfish are demanding our attention right now and
we should be giving it to them. Those stings are an indication that
something is wrong with our oceans — and we’re silly that we’re not
listening,” said Gershwin.
While some scientists have been more careful about linking climate
change and jellyfish blooms, given a lack of long-term data so far, most
researchers agree that jellyfish populations respond positively to a
number of human-induced changes, including pollution, overfishing and
warmer water. “All of this takes out their predators and competitors, so
they’re the ‘last men standing,’” said Gershwin.
For some less common species, that’s also true for any contact with
humans. While a so-called Irukandji variety of jellyfish can cause
hours-long body pain and potential strokes, the number of actual deaths
is relatively low. By 2017, there had only been two recorded fatalities
in Queensland, according to the Department of Health there. Far more
dangerous are box jellyfish, which have caused over 70 fatalities across
Australia.
Even though there is no definite way to predict future fatalities caused
by jellyfish blooms, Australian researchers are concerned that the
numbers could rise significantly.
Australian environmental activists say that their own government shares
some of the blame, pointing at the lack of a co-ordinated effort to
target plastic pollution in the waters around the Australian coastline,
for example. In October, the conservative governing party faced
additional criticism after it rejected calls to abandon coal power by 2050.
While Australia’s current government does not appear in a rush to tackle
some of those factors, other nations like China have a far bigger carbon
and plastic waste footprint and it’s unlikely that this will change any
time soon. Combined, that makes for some pessimistic predictions.
“(Jellyfish) are bad for the environment; they’re bad for humans. Having
more jellyfish isn’t something good — but I’d say we’re on track to
that,” said researcher Gershwin.