Warming sea water has caused jellyfish to appear in Primorye, according to Tatiana Dautova, scientific director of the Laboratory of Deep-Sea Research at the A. V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Speaking to TASS, Dautova said warm water attracts non-native species that are not typical for the region.
Among these non-native species is the large blue rhopilema jellyfish. Dautova said southern currents carry the seasonal species into local waters. She noted that because no new specimens are found in the spring, the species likely does not reproduce in Primorye.
The elevated water temperatures could persist until September. Dautova explained that stronger and longer warming periods will prolong the presence of the jellyfish in the sea.
Giant poisonous jellyfish complaints
Residents of Primorye and Kuban previously complained about an influx of giant poisonous barrel jellyfish. The jellyfish can reach one meter in length and weigh nearly 10 kilograms. People who encounter them report sharp pain, swelling, and blisters.
