If you are noticing more jellyfish in the sea on your holiday this summer, the blame may lie just over the horizon. Scientists have discovered that offshore wind farms and oil and gas platforms inadvertently provide an ideal habitat in which the gelatinous creatures can thrive. Until now, the explosion in jellyfish numbers in oceans around the world has been largely blamed on over-fishing, which wipes out their natural predators, global warming and nutrient run-off. But now it seems that man-made structures offer an enticing home for polyps – the tiny organisms which eventually grow into jellyfish. Too many jellyfish in the sea not only signal the deterioration of marine ecosystems; they also clog the intake pipes of shore-based power stations and desalination plants.
Telegraph 12th Aug 2017 read more »
