Our Oceans Are Sick- Are Jellyfish the Canary in the Coal Mine?

[JCMach1]

As a Floridian, I have lived near the ocean my entire life. I can even remember as a kid the rare occurrence of seeing a Portuguese Man of War and staring at the odd jelly fish that washed ashore occasionally. Fast forward to today. In the last year I have visited several of the world's tropical oceans... Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf... what I found there was shocking. In addition to an explosion of plastic rubbish and trash, there is an explosion of jelly fish that is choking the ocean of our world.

Not just a weird coincidence, scientists have also begun to take notice: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/12/jellyfish-plankton-ocean-acid

On my trip to the Musandam in Oman (one of the most remote places in the world), the waters were absolutely full of jellyfish as far the eye could see. I couldn't even dive without being in almost constant contact with them. Fortunately for me, I don't have any allergies to the stings. I cam out unscathed, however our oceans are in much worse shape and drowning in the slimy jellies.

[BeHereNow]

1. Do I recall correctly reading that if the oceans go, so do we?

Oils spills, corral reefs dying off- and do't get me started on the bees.

When we had dinner the other night, our family discussed the fish
that appeared to be no longer available on the market- over fishing?
I mean does any one else see the entire world going through a rather disturbing "shift?"

So many things seem "off."

BHN

[JCMach1]

2. My point exactly... I have seen it first hand... I also dive and live coral is becoming more rare

as well...

[BeHereNow]

3. "Lost in Space" Bill Mumy track "Wrestling with Survival"

Yes, THAT Bill Mumy-

&feature=share

BHN

[Generic Other]

6. Thanks for the link

Great song and video

[BeHereNow]

12. Yeah, thought so too! I had no idea Mumy had become a songwriter!

He's really good.
I liked the song and video so much I put it on my desktop for easy
access; I've listened to it several times and each time I notice
another nuance that impresses me even more.
I haven't looked up any of his other work, but I intend to now!

BHN

PS: LOL, just have to share one more thing...I had such a crush on him
as a kid, NEVER missed a night of "Lost in Space" when it was on TV...

[Zorra]

4. I was actually scratching the itchy remains of severe Sea Bathers Eruption that I got from

jellyfish in the waters of the Pacific Coast in Southern Mexico when I noticed your post.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabather%27s_eruption

I was also stung 3 times (on the same day) by larger jellyfish; I was ill for 4 days.

I believe you are correct. I believe that jellyfish have become a serious epidemic disease of our oceans.

[JCMach1]

10. Ouch...

[callous taoboy]

5. I vacationed on South Padre Island, TX a few summers ago:

Granted, there had been some major storms during the past few days, but the amount of garbage, including medical waste (syringes), that had washed up on the beach was truly appalling. When I used to vacation there as a boy in the late 60's / early 70's the beach was pristine. I will never go back to S.P.I. again: Too many humans, too much human debris, too much noise pollution (goddamned jet skis are allowed now).

[onethatcares]

7. it's not just the oceans, it's the rivers and lakes

when the fish are poisoned and there are warning signs about eating them, you know it's all falling apart.

Without water nothing survives.

Meanwhile there's a certain political party out there that wants to do away with regulations concerning

toxic wastes being pumped into those same waters.

We are truly fucked, when our grandkids ask, "Why did you leave us a world like this?" I'm not sure what

I'll be able to tell them.

[raouldukelives]

8. Tell them the truth. Money is our God.

We decided corporate profits and 401k's were more important than things like wilderness and dumb animals. I'm sure they will understand when we explain it was for retirement. If that doesn't work show them the cool things we were able to buy with the money we got in trade. Shiny things!

[onethatcares]

9. I forget which Indian chief its ascribed to but he said

When the last tree is chopped down, the last game killed and the last fish caught, the whiteman will realize he cannot eat money.

That's adlib but it's the truth.

[felix_numinous]

11. A break in the food chain

-sea turtles, sunfish, tuna and sharks eat them--seems like a massive effort to raise and release their natural predators would help things a bit.