Jellyfish Blooms Could Indicate Imbalance in Ecosystem Health
Oceanography, Volume 27, Number 4, 2014
Robinson, K.L., J.J. Ruzicka, M.B. Decker, R.D. Brodeur, F.J. Hernandez, J. Quiñones, E.M. Acha, S.-i. Uye, H. Mianzan, and W.M. Graham. 2014. Jellyfish, forage fish, and the world’s major fisheries. Oceanography 27(4):104–115, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/ oceanog.2014.90
A new study, published in the journal Oceanography, recommends that managers consider jellyfish as indicators to assess the condition of ecosystems and forage fish populations. The study, titled Jellyfish, Forage fish, and the World’s Major Fisheries, led by Dr. William Graham from the University of Southern Mississippi, showed that since forage fish and jellyfish compete for the same food, plankton, harvesting too many of these fish could lead to uncontrolled jellyfish blooms—a term for giant swarms. In light of this relationship, the study proposed that jellyfish be used as an independent “ecosystem health indicator” as part of ecosystem-based fishery management for forage fish. The study contributes to the mounting evidence that considering animals in the context of their roles in the environment will improve management of fisheries and the health of broader ocean ecosystem.
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