Javier Quiñones

Recurrent jellyfish blooms are a consequence of global oscillations

A perceived recent increase in global jellyfish abundance has been portrayed as a symptom of degraded oceans. This perception is based primarily on a few case studies and anecdotal evidence, but a formal analysis of global temporal trends in jellyfish populations has been missing. Here, we analyze all available long-term datasets on changes in jellyfish abundance across multiple coastal stations, using linear and logistic mixed models and effect-size analysis to show that there is no robust evidence for a global increase in jellyfish. Although there has been a small linear increase in jellyfish since the 1970s, this trend was unsubstantiated by effect-size analysis that showed no difference in the proportion of increasing vs. decreasing jellyfish populations over all time periods examined. Rather, the strongest nonrandom trend indicated jellyfish populations undergo larger, worldwide oscillations with an approximate 20-y periodicity, including a rising phase during the 1990s that contributed to the perception of a global increase in jellyfish abundance. Sustained monitoring is required over the next decade to elucidate with statistical confidence whether the weak increasing linear trend in jellyfish after 1970 is an actual shift in the baseline or part of an oscillation. Irrespective of the nature of increase, given the potential damage posed by jellyfish blooms to fisheries, tourism, and other human industries, our findings foretell recurrent phases of rise and fall in jellyfish populations that society should be prepared to face.

Chrysaora plocamia: A Poorly Understood Jellyfish from South American Waters

Blooms and strandings of Chrysaora plocamia are reported to occur along both Atlantic and Pacific South American coasts. First described in Peruvian waters by Lesson (1830) almost two centuries ago as Cyanea plocamia, there is surprisingly little ecological information about this conspicuous animal. This chapter reviews current knowledge about C. plocamia biology and ecology, its relationship with pelagic fisheries and climate and the problems blooms cause in the Humboldt Current and Patagonian shelf ecosystems. Chrysaora plocamia has important ecological roles, including trophic and symbiotic interactions with fish and sea turtles. Population variability has a clear relationship with climate where phases of high C. plocamia biomass were associated with El Nino events occurring during warm “El Viejo” regimes. Interestingly, their estimated biomass occasionally approached those of sardines or anchovies. This large jellyfish negatively affects human industries in the region when abundant, including fisheries, aquaculture, desalination plants and tourism. Understanding relationships between jellyfish blooms and environmental drivers (e.g. ENSO, regime shifts) should allow forecasting of the jellyfish abundance and potential vulnerabilities such that resource managers and industrial fisheries owners may prepare for costly outbreaks.

Jellyfish fisheries in the Americas: origin, state of the art, and perspectives on new fishing grounds

Jellyfish (primarily scyphomedusae) fisheries have a long history in Asia, where jellyfish have been caught and processed as food for centuries. More recently, jellyfish fisheries have expanded to the Western Hemisphere, often driven by demand from Asian buyers and collapses of more traditional local fish stocks. Jellyfish fisheries have been attempted in numerous countries in North, Central, and South America, with varying degrees of success. Here, we chronicle the arrival of jellyfish fisheries in the Americas and summarize relevant information on jellyfish fishing, processing, and management. Processing technology for edible jellyfish has not advanced, and presents major concerns for environmental and human health. The development of alternative processing technologies would help to eliminate these concerns and may open up new opportunities for markets and species. We also examine the biodiversity of jellyfish species that are targeted for fisheries in the Americas. Establishment of new jellyfish fisheries appears possible, but requires a specific combination of factors including high abundances of particular species, processing knowledge dictated by the target market, and either inexpensive labor or industrialized processing facilities. More often than not, these factors are not altogether evaluated prior to attempting a new jellyfish fishery. As such, jellyfish fisheries are currently expanding much more rapidly than research on the subject, thereby putting ecosystems and stakeholders’ livelihoods at risk.

Spatial patterns of large jellyfish Chrysaora plocamia blooms in the Northern Humboldt Upwelling System in relation to biological drivers and climate

Javier Qui~ nones*, Luciano M. Chiaverano, Patricia Ayón, Grant D. Adams, Hermes W. Mianzan, and E. Marcelo Acha Laboratorio Costero de Pisco, Instituto del Mar del Perú IMARPE, Av. Los Libertadores A-12, Urb. El Golf, Paracas, Ica, Perú Division of Marine Science, University of Southern Mississippi, 1020 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, 39529 MS, USA Laboratorio de Zooplankton y Producción Secundaria, Área de Investigaciones en Oceanografı́a Biológica, Instituto del Mar del Perú IMARPE, Esquina. Gamarra y General Valle S/N Chucuito, Callao, Perú School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020, USA Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Technology, University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, USA Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero INIDEP, Paseo Victoria Ocampo N 1, Mar del Plata B7602HSA, Argentina Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (UNMdP-CONICET), Mar del Plata, Argentina *Corresponding author: tel: þ51 992 790 017; e-mail: jquinones@imarpe.gob.pe. Deceased.