Poisonous Jellyfishes found dead at Puri beach in Odisha

Puri: Hundreds of poisonous jellyfishes were found dead at sea beach in Puri here creating a serious alarm for the tourists as well the fishermen.

The beautiful jellyfish also known as ‘Blue Button Jellyfish’ or ‘Porpita porpita’ is the food of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The death of the hundreds of jellyfishes is suspected to be the reason behind decline of Olive Ridleys.

The Blue Button Jellyfish is chiefly found in Mediterranean Sea where the climate is normally hot. However, the arrival of such jellyfish in large number at coastal region of Odisha predicts ecological imbalance.

As the climate in Odisha is found very hot since the past few years and environmental pollution could be the factors that the jellyfishes are heading towards Odisha coast, sources said.

The Blue Button Jellyfish in large number might have died due to water pollution, said Assistant Fisheries Resources Officer (Marine) of Puri district Prakash Tripathy.

On the other hand, the jellyfishes could pose threat to thousands of tourists who are visiting the destination being attracted to serenity and beauty of sea in Puri. The fishermen may be affected due to arrival the jellyfishes at seashore.