Today's Article

There's a jellyfish boom in the UK and Ireland according to a new report. The Marine Conservation Society has 8revealed a 32% increase in jellyfish 9sightings 10compared to last year. The 11charity's 12annual report is based on data sent in by the public. Those sightings are then 13analyzed in interesting patterns, such as changes in species or long-term trends in population sizes. So, what's behind the rise of jellyfish sightings? 

Dr. Angus Jackson, Seasearch Data Officer: As waters warm in springtime, jellyfish start to grow and 14reproduce. And when the conditions are really good, when the water is warm, when there's lots of food available, that 15reproduction can happen really very, very quickly. Under those conditions, the numbers of jellyfish at sea can get to be very large. If that 16coincides with storms or 17onshore winds, these blooms of jellyfish are blown in towards the 18coast where they 19accumulate and appear even more dense. If the public happened to be there at that time, that's when there are more and more 20observations. 

This year, ocean temperatures have reached record levels, with some parts experiencing intense and 21unprecedented heat waves. But experts say we can't 22solely 23attribute the jellyfish boom to 24climate change. 

Dr. Angus Jackson: Whether we can say the large numbers this year are 25consequence of climatic change, I wouldn't want to do that simply because there are so many other 26variables that 27contribute to that large reproduction. If we see increasing temperatures into the future, it wouldn't be surprising if the numbers of jellyfish increased as a consequence.