Jellyfish bloom calls for caution

Busan city officials and local fishermen catch jellyfish in a net at Mipo Port in Busan, Wednesday, after an increasing number of jellyfish appeared along the coast, becoming a threat for local fishermen and tourists. / Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

The ongoing heat wave is bringing an increasing number of jellyfish to coastal waters this summer and swimmers and those playing along the beaches are being advised to take extra care.

With the increase, the number of swimmers stung by the jellyfish stood at 1,050 nationwide as of Aug. 13, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard.

Most victims were initially reported along the eastern coast of the country. But over 150 people were treated over the last weekend alone on the island of Jeju, showing the jellyfish boom is spreading to southern waters.

The 2013 figures compare with a total of 2,039 incidents the previous year. In addition, the jellyfish this year are more venomous, according to the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI).

There are 31 species of jellyfish that usually appear along the coastlines around the Korean Peninsula, the institute said. Among them, seven species, including the cannonball jellyfish, have especially dangerous stings.

In August last year, an 8-year-old girl died after being stung on her legs and hands by a cannonball jellyfish. The dangerous jellifish usually travel through the waters around Korea from June to December.

Jellyfish lingering around Jeju Island resemble carybdea rastoni, a smaller species which is also usually seen in eastern coasts.

Officials at the NFRDI are warning beachgoers to be cautious and to go to the nearest hospital if stung.

"Climate change and extreme heat are believed to be the cause of the influx around Jeju Island. The NFRDI has sent a research team there to track them as well as study where the jellyfish were coming from," said an official.

Jellyfish blooms are an issue for many countries. Not only Korea but also other countries have been battling rising numbers.

Korea has tried various countermeasures, but no innovative or totally effective measure has been come up with.

In recent years, releasing filefish ― a predator of jellyfish ― has emerged as one method. However, the two prefer different water temperatures.

Han Chang-hoon, a research fellow at the NFRDI said, "It will be impossible to get rid of all jellyfish from the waters. Concentrating efforts near beaches or using ocean pens could be more effective."

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