Jellyfish: if you can’t beat them, eat them?
While jellyfish blooms can be problematic, researchers believe a sustainable use for this gelatinous plankton can be found.
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00:00Kartemund is a charming harbour town in central Denmark, with a stunning fjord surrounded
00:08by fields, hills and forests.
00:12It's a haven for marine wildlife, but this University of Southern Denmark scientists
00:17are intrigued by one mysterious species, looming just beneath the surface of the water.
00:31These sea jellies aren't very stingy, but their biomass here is so dense it harms other
00:36species.
00:37We're diving to collect samples and observe this massive jellyfish bloom.
00:43Around the world, jellyfish sting tourists, clog fishing nets and block water pipelines.
00:50There are even fears they might replace all other sea species.
00:54But Jamileh Javidpour, who has been studying jellyfish for over 20 years, says we don't
00:59know enough yet to make such predictions.
01:02Apocalyptic scenarios of jellyfish bloom are existing and there are partly true stories
01:08because the presence of jellyfish might affect the entire ecosystem.
01:12However, changes in the entire population needs a kind of holistic view.
01:18What is the effect of other populations that are connected to this layer of the food web
01:24together?
01:25So we need a kind of adaptive view to jellyfish bloom, which is still not existing.
01:32Researchers monitor water temperatures, salinity and other factors to better understand the
01:37causes of jellyfish blooms.
01:40It appears jellyfish thrive due to overfishing, which removes their predators and competitors,
01:46and agricultural runoff that depletes oxygen in the water.
01:50Unlike other species, jellyfish aren't bothered by low oxygen levels.
01:55While jellyfish blooms can be problematic, researchers believe we can find a sustainable
02:00use for this gelatinous plankton.
02:03For instance, jellyfish could provide an alternative source of collagen for cosmetics.
02:08They are also great at capturing microplastic particles, which can help clean our oceans.
02:14Jamileh Javidpour coordinated the GoJelly project, funded by the European Union.
02:21It came up with a method to use jellyfish mucus, either natural or synthetic, to filter
02:26wastewater before it reaches the ocean.
02:29They take up particles very actively and capture these particles and pack them in a biological
02:36mucus filter to get rid of them.
02:40And then that is a pattern that we can learn from nature to come up with nature solutions.
02:47Possible uses for the sea jellies are numerous.
02:52Let's move from Denmark to Italy's southern Apulia region.
02:56Researchers at the Institute of Sciences of Food Production in Lecce are experimenting
03:01with turning jellyfish into plant fertilizer.
03:04They start with frozen sea jellies and use vacuum drying to convert them into white powder.
03:11Besides salt, this powder contains valuable amino acids, minerals and other nutrients
03:17present in jellyfish that can be readily absorbed by plants.
03:24Experiments show that plants grow better on jellyfish nutrients compared to a substrate
03:29with just salt.
03:47Jellyfish could even help cure diseases.
03:50Although still in the very early stages of research, scientists have discovered bioactive
03:56compounds in jellyfish that can trigger the death of breast cancer cells in experimental conditions.
04:03And since jellyfish often end up in fishing nets, why not eat them?
04:29In Asia, this is common practice.
04:31This restaurant in Lecce is part of a European project exploring jellyfish as food.
04:37Chef Fabiano Viva believes seafood lovers will enjoy cooked jellyfish with its intense
04:42marine flavor.
05:01This recipe features jellyfish in a traditional Mediterranean seafood soup, but chefs see
05:07many other possible ways to cook jellyfish.
05:29Researchers led by Antonella Leon have developed a safe method to preserve jellyfish without
05:34using the aluminum salts that are common in Asia but considered harmful in Europe.
05:41Instead, they propose using calcium salts, which are safe to eat and preserve the jellyfish's
05:47texture better.
05:49The researchers teamed up with chefs to make a cookbook with jellyfish recipes.
05:54But before jellyfish can be served to the public, they need to be officially approved
05:58as food.
06:22Sustainability is key.
06:24While jellyfish blooms are increasing in seas like the Mediterranean, researchers caution
06:29against large-scale fishing of this diverse species.
06:33We joined Dr. Leon on a sampling trip in the Gulf of Toronto, home to a beautiful barrow
06:39jellyfish population.
06:41We still lack knowledge about these gelatinous creatures and their unique life cycles.
06:46Surveys and samplings are, however, ongoing in seas around the planet.
06:52In the meantime, any jellyfish-derived compounds used by the industry could be synthesized
06:58or based on sustainable production methods, such as jellyfish aquaculture.
07:05Removing too many jellyfish from our oceans before we fully understand them could put
07:10us on a slippery slope.
07:22The best way to keep marine life healthy is to address the root causes of their problems,
07:28such as climate change, pollution and overfishing.
07:34Jellyfish have been a part of marine ecosystems for the last 500 million years, and with progress
07:40on this front, they will continue to be.
07:44Jellyfish have been a part of marine ecosystems for the last 500 million years, and with proper
07:50balance, they will keep their rightful place in our oceans' natural harmony.