The calm weather that Malta has been experiencing since end-March has lead to one thing: a surge in reports submitted to the University’s Spot the Jellyfish campaign which aims to shed light on the bobbing creatures and biodiversity in Maltese waters.

In a Newspoint update shared by the University, a “plethora of gelatinous species” which were reported to the campaign include the following species: “the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis), the barbed-wire jellyfish (Apolemia uvaria), the giant siphonophore (Praya dubia) and Forskalia edwardsii, as well as a number of ctenophore/comb jelly species and the crystal or multi-ribbed jellyfish (Aequorea forskalea).”

“The latter species, which was first recorded from Maltese waters through the Spot the Jellyfish campaign in 2010, occurs only sporadically within Maltese waters, appearing for brief pulses during spring months in particular years only, being one of the largest known hydromedusae, reaching a maximum bell diameter of 15cm,” the University’s news report explains. Safe to say we’re steering clear of this 15cm creature.

The campaign

The Spot the Jellyfish initiative, headed by Prof. Alan Deidun with the support of Dr Adam Gauci and Mr Johann Galdies, kicked off in June 2010 and has “documented several thousand validated citizen science reports for at least 40 species of gelatinous plankton since then, including almost ten new records for Maltese waters.”

It follows a citizen science approach, relying heavily on the collaboration of members of the public who are encouraged to record any sightings and report them according to the leaflet. “Reporting is done by simply matching the sighted jellyfish with a simple visual identification guide, giving the date and time of the sighting, and indicating the number of individuals seen. Sightings can be reported online, through an e-mail, or by contacting Prof. Alan Deidun.”