Israel Invaded By Giant Jellyfish

Beachgoers in Israel have been attacked by giant jellyfish. The blobby monsters have washed up in the millions, intimidating bathers and clogging intake grates of electrical power plants. Al Jazeera is reporting that this variety of jelly fish is harmless to people, but if swimmers encounter the eggs they may feel a slight sting. The biggest inconvenience is the effort and expense of unclogging the intakes of the coastal power plants. There is some concern that the plant cooling systems will become so compromised that they need to be shut down.

Invasion of the blobs is not a new phenomenon. Last year Japan’s power plants and fishing fleet were invaded by giant, stinging jellies that clogged power plant intakes and poisoned the fish catch with their toxic stings.

Britain is bracing for a jellyfish invasion. Today’s Sun newspaper is reporting that a followup invasion to the one that occurred in Scotland last month where the Torness power station was forced to close due to clogged cooling intakes. Authorities have stated that there was no danger to the public and that the nuclear power stations were closed down as a precautionary move.

Jellyfish are simple animals that consume tiny particles of food. Their stinging cells are used to disable their prey so they can bring it into their mouths. They have no defense and are weak swimmers. Some scientists, put forward reasons for the apparent increase in jellyfish numbers. Pollution, warmer ocean temperatures and lack of predators could all be contributing to the epidemic.