Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Marine Science => Topic started by: evan_au on 03/08/2013 10:44:01

Title: Will Salps & Jellyfish take over the sea?
Post by: evan_au on 03/08/2013 10:44:01

Today I watched a film of researchers sampling ocean life near Antarctica.

Several of the sampling runs were dominated by gelatinous sea creatures containing orange lumps, called "Salps" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salp).

I had never heard of them before.

Is it possible that due to overfishing, our oceans will be overrun by Salps & Jellyfish?

Title: Re: Will Salps & Jellyfish take over the sea?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/11/2013 01:29:26

I'm none too sure whether I am right in saying that the biggest predators of salps and jellyfish are not fish, but whales and turtles, so I don't think fishing (for human consumption) would have a direct effect on them, except in that whales are still taken for food in some countries as are turtles. Turtles also are subject to accidental capture in trawl nets where they will usually die, a big problem easily solved by the use of TED's (Turtle Exclusion Device).