Moon jellyfish bloom at Hobart waterfront indicator of unbalanced marine ecosystem, scientist says

Photo courtesy of ABC News: Jonny McNee. Retrieved from abc.net.au

A mass of thousands of jellyfish at Hobart’s waterfront dock may look like a natural phenomenon, but a leading scientist has warned its presence indicates something awry in the marine habitat.

Biologist and jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin said Thursday’s spectacle was the most “gobsmacking” bloom of aurelia aurita — or moon jellyfish — she has ever seen.

“They actually bloom as a natural part of their life cycle, and they do bloom here at Constitution Dock every year, but not in these kind of numbers,”

Dr Gershwin said.

She said she has been receiving reports for some weeks of increasing jellyfish numbers in Storm Bay, east of Hobart, stretching to as far as halfway up Tasmania’s east coast.

The jellyfish put on a bioluminescent show for onlookers at Hobart’s waterfront on Thursday night.