Giant Echizen Jellyfish and the Fishing Industry
There is something a little slimy going on in Japan recently that is causing more than fear amongst Japanese fishermen. Every year Giant Echizen jellyfish reproduce off the coast of Chinese and Korean waters; however, this year these giant monsters made their way to the waters of Japan. These jellyfish can reach up to 7 feet long and nearly three hundred pounds and they are creating a huge impact on the Japanese economy. According to Japanese economists, it is said that there have been nearly a 1 billion yen (around 110 million USD) loss due to these jellyfish. In a time where every amount of revenue counts, local fisherman are really hurting.
According to CBS in San Diego, USA, one of these giant jellyfish even capsized a local fisherman’s boat off the coast of Japan. The Giant Echizen got caught in his netting underwater and the sheer size and weight capsized his boat, causing more economic loss. These jellyfish are killing many fish by their poisonous tentacles, and they are also getting caught in the fishermen’s nets, causing the fish inside of them to die, or their nets to rip. 
Little is known about these jellyfish and due to their economic impacts, many Japanese scientists are beginning to look deeper into them. CBS reported that the rise in sea temperatures may have caused a rise in the population of these deadly jellyfish. The increased pollution off the coast of China has also be reported to increase their population. This has brought up the question of global warming and the impact of the rising sea temperatures off the coast of Japan. Scientists hope that they can find the reasoning behind this recent migration of deadly creatures.
Link to video: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8385953.stm
Drew Malay
Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8385953.stm
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=11592404
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I came across an article about this issue. As a country surrounded by water, this is obviously a huge economic problem. Not only do fishermen lose money, it sounds as though they are in danger. I think it would be interesting to see one of these giant jellyfish. Do people swim in these areas?
This was a very interesting article. I stumpled upon this issue about a week ago, yet never really looked into it. The amount of money these jellyfish are hurting the economy is absurd and hopefully this issue will be resolved. Do you think it is global warming that is heating up the Japanese waters? How long do the jellyfish typically stay during a particular season? Are they harmful to humans, as in lethal?
I am very glad you posted this Drew, because it is a serious issue that not only affects Japan, but also the rest of the world; Japan is one of the world leaders in fishing and a significant hit like this will effect the economies worldwide.
How do you even begin to solve this problem? It is interesting to see the wide range of problems that global warming is causing and how it is affecting Japan directly.
I also saw this article a couple of weeks ago and found it very interesting. I am very curious as to how anyone can even go about solving this issue. It is a gigantic economic issue due to the immense amount of fish that Japanese people eat. It is staggering that one thing can sway the economy so much and cost the Japanese fishing industry so much money. Lets all hope this issue is resolved soon so the Japanese fishing industry can return to normal and continue providing the world with fresh, delicious fish.
Biased blurb of an article is biased?