Jellyfish proliferate as a polluted Mediterranean heats up

MEDSEA report released in Barcelona

(ANSA) - Madrid, July 24 - The sharp increase in jellyfish over the past 30 years in the Mediterranean Sea poses a risk not only to its ecosystem but also to tourism, one of the pillars of the area's economy, a report by Barcelona's Aquarium as part of the European project MEDSEA warned on Thursday.

Rising temperatures and increasingly acidic waters caused by CO2 emissions cause jellyfish to proliferate: a half-degree rise in temperature and a 10% in the acidity of the Mediterranean  over the past 30 years have led to a ''serious dysfunction'' of marine ecosystems, endangering certain species and leading to an alarming increase in others (such as jellyfish) as the latter's predators die out.

Experts warn that air contamination is having worrisome effects on water since the ocean absorbs a significant portion of CO2, which is at the origin of the dangerous acidification, and acidification is ''happening 10 times more rapidly than that which preceded the extinction of many marine species 55 million years ago''. Contrary to what is generally believed, jellyfish are delicate animals, as water molecules account for 95% of their bodies. Transparency enables them to camouflage themselves in the open sea and drift on marine currents. They do not attack people, although the friction against the skin of swimmers causes painful rashes. Experts recommend that those suffering from the rashes avoid scratching the area, clean it well with sea water, and apply ice packs for 15 minutes.