Carcasses of blue buttons wash ashore Odisha coast

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, May 2:

Carcasses of thousands of blue button jellyfish were found along Konark-Astaranga coastline in Odisha’s Puri district since last two-three days raising concerns among the environmentalists and wildlife experts.

While the blue button jellyfish are found in tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, the sight of dead hydroids along the Bay of Bengal is rare as they survive in warm waters and seldom found here.

Experts opine that the aquatic species might be dying due to drastic climate change.

“It is a rare phenomenon here as we don’t find blue button jellyfish along Odisha coast. The blue buttons might be dying due to climate change or marine water pollution,” an environmentalist expressed.

We haven’t seen blue button jellyfish in such large numbers along the beaches. For the first time, we are seeing such thing. The carcasses have dotted the coasts since last two-three days. It is very sad that they are dying due to some unknown reasons. We appeal the government to send experts for further research to find out the reason behind this, a local resident said.

The blue buttons (Porpita porpita) are actually not jellyfish. However, they superficially resemble the gelatinous aquatic animal. They feed on copepods and crustacean larvae and their sting causes mild irritation to human skin.

It may be recalled that dead Olive Ridley turtles were found along the Odisha coasts few months ago. Besides, the carcass of a gigantic whale was also found along the Mangala river mouth in Puri district in February this year.