Jellyfishing in Europe: Current Status, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions towards a Sustainable Practice

Abstract

Jellyfish are often described as a nuisance species, but as our understanding shifts to more ecosystem-based conceptions, they are also recognized as both important components of marine ecosystems and a resource for humans. Here, we describe global jellyfish fisheries and review production, fishing methods, and applications based on the existing literature. We then focus on future development of a European jellyfish fishery based on current and recent EU research initiatives. Jellyfish have been a staple food in East Asia for eons and now show a potential for non-food applications as well. The main fishing methods are mostly traditional, with set-nets, driftnets, hand-nets, and scoop-nets utilizing small crafts or beach-seines. All require a lot of manual labor, thus providing vital, albeit seasonal, occupation to weaker populations. Larger commercial vessels such as purse seines and trawlers are newly introduced métiers which may enable a larger catch per unit effort and total catch, but pose questions of selectivity, bycatch, vessel stability, and transshipment. Social concerns arising from the seasonality of jellyfish fisheries must be met in SE Asia, Latin America, and in any location where new fisheries are established. In the EU, we recognize at least 15 species showing potential for commercial harvesting, but as of 2021, a commercial fishery has yet to be developed; as in finfish fisheries, we advise caution and recognition of the role of jellyfish in marine ecosystems in doing so. Sustainable harvesting techniques and practices must be developed and implemented for a viable practice to emerge, and social and ecological needs must also be incorporated into the management plan. Once established, the catch, effort, and stock status must be monitored, regulated, and properly reported to FAO by countries seeking a viable jellyfish fishery. In the near future, novel applications for jellyfish will offer added value and new markets for this traditional resource.

Jellyfish as Food: A Narrative Review

“…E-based fishery management has been suggested to safeguard a comprehensive approach for the sustainability of jellyfish fisheries that will be positive. To ensure environmental sustainability, certain issues like habitat integrity, monitoring, by-catches, seasonality and the life cycle of products have to be taken into account so they can be managed [ 13 ]. This implies taking integrated approaches to include state-of-the-art fishing management strategies within ecological boundaries by integrating fishing along with other human actions, and preserving ecosystem stability and biodiversity with the necessary processes to ensure the stability of ecosystems and/or their services [ 48 ].…”

“…The practice of eating cooked umbrella in salads has extended to other Asian nations such as Malaysia, Thailand and Japan. Europe is beginning to see this possibility [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Jellyfishes—Significant Marine Resources with Potential in the Wound-Healing Process: A Review

“…We can achieve an overview of just how numerous and important this marine resource is by studying reported data on the number of known species of jellyfish [31]. Edelist et al reported that there are approximately 400 species of Scyphomedusae [32]. Of these, Dawson et 92 species are Rhizostomatous [33].…”

Tracking Jellyfish Swarm Origins Using a Combined Oceanographic-Genetic-Citizen Science Approach

“…Jellyfish blooms are a global natural phenomenon that is sometimes considered to be exacerbated by human activities (Purcell et al, 2007). Jellyfish are typically perceived as a nuisance, negatively affecting human interests such as coastal leisure, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, power, and desalination plants (Purcell et al, 2007;Edelist et al, 2021). They also play an important role in marine ecosystems and can be considered as a boon for fishers, a valuable source of food and other products when harvested sustainably (Edelist et al, 2021).…”

“…Jellyfish are typically perceived as a nuisance, negatively affecting human interests such as coastal leisure, tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, power, and desalination plants (Purcell et al, 2007;Edelist et al, 2021). They also play an important role in marine ecosystems and can be considered as a boon for fishers, a valuable source of food and other products when harvested sustainably (Edelist et al, 2021). For all these reasons, understanding jellyfish swarm dynamics and tracking their origins are important.…”