Overview
Introduction
Economic Importance
Physical Description
Size
Ecology
Local Occurrence
Global Distribution
Crypsis
Life History & Behaviour
Life Cycle & Reproduction
Locomotion
Feeding (Report)
Anatomy & Physiology
Nervous System
Musculature
Respiration, Circulation & Excretion
Evolution & Systematics
Systematics
Conservation & Threats
Conservation
Threats
References |
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
While jellyfish themselves are not harvested as a food source, they do have a significant impact on the global economy.
Fisheries contribute substantially to the global economy. In Australia alone, the gross value of fisheries was $2.23 billion, with a total catch of 234,264 tonnes (Department of Agriculture, 2013). However, pelagic Cnidarians cause significant damage to fisheries and their stock due to their penchant for consuming larval fish (Purcell et al., 1987). For example, in British Columbia, large numbers of Aequorea victoria inhabit herring spawning grounds to take advantage of the plentiful herring larvae (Purcell et al., 1987). This impacts the population size and stability of the herrings, which in turn directly impacts the associated fishery.
The role of gelatinous predators such as jellyfish in marine food-webs, has attracted increased scientific interest worldwide (Moller & Riisgard, 2007), especially due to their impact on fisheries. For example, Professor Kimberly Waldron was granted $17,967 to research Aequorea jellyfish (enGrant Scientific, 2013). This influx of funds into the scientific community increases employment opportunities as well as provides vital information about the impact of jelly fish on fisheries which contribute significantly to the global economy. |
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