Australian scientists wonder if climate change a cause of recent jellyfish ‘epidemic’
MELBOURNE, Australia — Authorities in Queensland, Australia, were forced to close beaches across the region last weekend amid what local officials said was a jellyfish “epidemic.”
More than 13,000 stings were recorded in Queensland alone the previous week, with more than 2,500 people seeking treatment over the weekend, according to rescue organizations.
While the vast majority of those stings are not lifethreatening and were caused by what are called bluebottle colonies, researchers said the number of more serious injuries from less common jellyfish is also at above average levels.
Some researchers also said this jellyfish infestation could be one more thing to blame on climate change.
“Unlike other species, jellyfish are stimulated by just about any change to the ecosystem.
“So, it’s reasonable to say that the jellyfish might potentially be responding to the warmer-than-usual weather,” said marine life researcher Lisa Gershwin, who works with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, which is Australia’s national science agency.
While researchers are still examining how much recent heat waves may have contributed to the current jellyfish bloom off Australia’s coasts, they can already say with certainty how the jellyfish got to the beaches: strong and unusual winds pushing toward Queensland.
Ms. Gershwin and other scientists say that the surge in stings is unlikely to be coincidental.
“Jellyfish are demanding our attention right now and we should be giving it to them. Those stings are an indication that something is wrong with our oceans — and we’re silly that we’re not listening,” she said.
While some scientists have been more careful about linking climate change and jellyfish blooms, given a lack of long-term data so far, most researchers agree that jellyfish populations respond positively to a number of human-induced changes
They include pollution, overfishing and warmer water. “All of this takes out their predators and competitors, so they’re the ‘last men standing,’” Ms. Gershwin said.
A so-called Irukandji variety of jellyfish can cause hourslong body pain and potential strokes in humans, but the number of deaths is relatively low. By 2017, there had been only two recorded fatalities in Queensland, according to the Department of Health there. Far more dangerous are box jellyfish, which have caused over 70 fatalities across Australia.
Even though there is no definite way to predict future fatalities caused by jellyfish blooms, Australian researchers are concerned that the numbers could rise significantly.