Jelly Fish And Its Economic Impacts

Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

Jelly fish and its economic impacts:

Introduction:

This paper is an analysis of an article by Michael Casey (2009) entitled “Jellyfish swarm northward in warming world”, the article describes the increasing number of jelly fish in the north coasts due to various factors including global warming and over fishing, the article also discusses the various consequences of this increases and include endangering the lives of fishermen, beachgoers and losses to the fishing industry. The article also summarizes possible solutions to the current problem including controlling fishing through the introduction of fishing quotas, compensation of fishermen and reducing water pollution.

Summary of the article:

The article states that there has been an increase in the number of jelly fish in the coasts of Japan and china, the article states that there are over 2000 species of jelly fish, the Nomura also referred to as Nemopilema nomurai is largely discusses given that it is a giant jelly fish that weights over 200 kilograms and a diameters may be as large as 2 meters, when the jelly fish is trapped together with the fish, they kill fish by stinging them because they have venom that not endangers the fish but also fishermen and beachgoers.

The increase in jelly fish population in these coasts has resulted into a decline in the number of fish caught, due to their weight they break nets and this has frustrated the fishermen, further due to there venom the price of fish has declined given that there are quality fears. The extent

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

of this problem is evident from a report where by between 20 to 40 people in the Philippines die each year from jellyfish sting, also a report shows that in Chesapeake Bay over 500,000 people suffer jellyfish stings each year.

The article states that one cause of this increase in jelly fish is as a result of global warming, the article states that in the last 2 and half years water temperature has increased by 1.7 degrees Celsius and this has enabled jelly fish species to inhibit regions with cooler waters especially the northern regions. Also a study by Jennifer Purcell showed that there is a strong correlation between the jelly fish population and temperature.

Another factor that has contributed to the increase in jelly fish population is increased pollution, pollution of water boosts the growth of microscopic plankton that is food for jelly fish, the increase in the food has therefore resulted into the increase in their number in the polluted waters. Over fishing is also another factor that has contributed to this increase in the number of jelly fish, jelly fish predators have declined due to over fishing and this has resulted into increase in their number, also given that they feed on microscopic plankton over fishing has reduced the competition for food and therefore decline in competitors has increased their numbers. The following is an analysis of the economic implications of the increased population of jelly fish.

Economic implication:

Causes of the increase in jelly fish population:

1. Climate change

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

Economic development has resulted into increased pollution and an increase in carbon dioxide, crude oil products use have heavily contributed to the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the demand for oil has increased in the last decade and this has resulted into environmental degradation, oil has no close substitute and its use has resulted into global warming.

According to the article the global warming has increased the temperature of water by 1.7 degrees Celsius, this increase in temperature has increased the range which jelly fish can survive including more cooler seas to the north which include Japan and China seas. Jennifer Purcell study shows that there is a correlation between temperature and the number of jelly fish, this means that the increased use of oil for economic development has resulted into global warming and this has resulted to an increase in the number of jelly fish.

1. Water   pollution:

According to the article water pollution has also resulted into an increase in the number of jelly fish, polluted water boosts the growth of microscopic plankton which is food for jelly fish, this means that due to economic development and increased population the level of water pollution has increased, this increase in pollution has increased jelly fish food supply, the increase in food supply means that the jelly fish multiply at a higher rate and this results into the current problem of increased jelly fish.

1. Over fishing:

Over fishing has also contributed to the current problem, the increased demand for fish and advancement in technology has encouraged over fishing, over fishing has resulted into a decrease in the number of jelly fish predators, this has resulted into an increase in the number of jelly fish given that the factors that control their population is depleted.

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

The other reason why over fishing has resulted into an increase in jelly fish population is due to the decline in species that depend on the microscopic plankton for food, this means that as over fishing increases fish that depend on microscopic plankton for food decline and this increases the food supply that increases jelly fish population.

Consequences:

There are some economic consequences as a result of this increase in the number of jelly fish, they include industry revenue losses, unemployment, endangers fishermen and beach goers and a decline in fish prices.

a) Decline in fish prices:

The price of goods and services is determined by the supply and demand, however a change in the demand for goods will affect the equilibrium price, the existence of jelly fish has changed consumer preferences, concerns about the quality of fish has led to a decline in the price of fish, this has resulted as consumers demand less fish given that they fear that the fish may be contaminated with sting venom from jelly fish, therefore this has resulted into a loss of revenue for fishermen who have now decided to exit the fishing industry.

b) Industry revenue losses:

the fishing industry has also been affected whereby the industry has lost up to 30 billion yen in revenue, fishermen have decided to stop fishing as a result of an increase in risk due to this problem, fishermen are also facing loses whereby during fishing expedition jelly fish are trapped in nets where they poison and kill fish. It is also evident that in some cases giant jelly fish weigh into 200 kilograms and when they are trapped in nets the nets break into financial loses.

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

c) Endangering lives:

Some jelly fish species have venom and they sting not only the fish but also human beings, at Chesapeake Bay the author states that a study undertaken in 2008 showed that showed that more than 500,000 individuals were stung by jelly fish, another study also showed that in the Philippines 20 to 40 individuals die each year.

It is also evident that due to their weight and size they endanger people lives by attacking boats, an example from the article show that at Echizen a jelly fish capsized a 10 tonnes trawler, this shows that the existence of jelly fish has increased health costs for beach goers and fishermen given that a large number of people suffer from jelly fish attacks. This may also have an implication of both domestic and foreign tourism. It may discourage tourism and therefore result into a decline in foreign earnings and employment that result from tourism.

Solutions to the current problem:

Some of the solutions include reduced water pollution, control fishing through the introduction of quotas, reduced green house gases emissions to offset global warming, bailing out fishermen, utilizing the jelly fish population for food and other purposes and the introduction of newly designed nets.

a) Control pollution:

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

This is a solution to the current problem given that polluted water increases jelly fish food supply, by reducing the pollution of water this will reduce the food supply and also encourage other fish species that feed on jelly fish to increase in number; this is a possible check to the jelly fish population.

b) Controlled fishing:

The government should introduced quotas to the level of fishing that should be undertaken, this will increase the number of predators that feed on jelly fish and therefore reduce their number, this will also help in preserving sea renewable resources and endangered species that may be depleted as a result of over fishing.

c) Newly designed nets:

The Japanese government has also introduced a net that contains two layers. The first layer will trap jelly fish while the fish pass through and are trapped in the second layer of the net.

Conclusion:

The above discussion summarizes the economic of an increase in the supply of jelly fish. The most appropriate intervention is to reduce the population of jelly fish by reducing pollution, increasing the number of predators that feed on jelly fish and also government intervention that introduces fishing quotas.

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Jelly Fish and its Economic Impacts

REFERENCE:

Michael Casey (2009) Jellyfish swarm northward in warming world