Jellyfish in Japan the size of sumo wrestlers are wreaking havoc on thefisheries industry.
AN invasion of jellyfish the size of sumo wrestlers is throwing Japan's fishing industry into chaos, the UK's Sky News Online reports.
The vast stinging creatures have appeared on Japan's Pacific coast after floating from Chinese and Korean waters where they breed every year.
The Echizen jellyfish grow up to 2.2m in diameter and can weigh over 300kg.
Their size means they are capable of ruining fisherman's nets and poisoning and crushing catches.
One fishing boat was even capsized after a mammoth creature got caught in its net.
A local fisherman said: " I have never seen anything this big before."
Much about the jellyfish swarms remains a mystery but some scientists believe global warming and rising sea temperatures may be a factor.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says the waters of the Sea of Japan are warming at a speed three times faster than the global average.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/weird-true-freaky/sumo-sized-jellyfish-throwing-japans-fishing-industry-into-chaos/story-e6frflri-1225806901682
Maybe perhaps it is because there are less dolphins, whales and sharks in Japan's waters to prey upon the jellyfish when they are smaller. You know, like millions of baby turtles before they make it to adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI read that this jelly fish issue was largely due to the decline of the top predators.
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