The unusual appearance of large numbers of dead jellyfish in Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach
Many dead jellyfish have been floating on Cox’s Bazar beach now. Each jellyfish weighs 10 to 15 kgs. Local environmentalists are urging an investigation into the cause of the sudden large number of jellyfishes.
Local people said dead jellyfish have been floating in the tidal water. In the afternoon at Daryanagar parasailing point on the beach, more than half a hundred jellyfish float together.
Rafiq, a fisherman of that area, said that he had never seen so many jellyfish floating at once in the last three years since he started fishing.
Deepak Sharma, president of Cox’s Bazar Forest and Environment Conservation Council, said that dead jellyfish are floating in Daryanagar, Himachari, Inani, and Teknaf’s Shahpari Island and Saint Martin’s Island north of Kalatali Beach in Cox’s Bazar.
Dogs have eaten some jellyfish; some got buried under the sand. Many jellyfish are lying on the beach. It is essential to investigate the reasons for the sudden appearance of such a large number of jellyfishes.
Cox’s Bazar Ocean Research Institute collected samples from the beach.
Abu Saeed Muhammad Sharif, Head of the Biological Oceanographic Division of the Institution, said, “After 65 days of fishing, all fishing trawlers have gone into the sea since July 23. Like other fish, jellyfish have also increased inbreeding in the Bay of Bengal.
Therefore, people suspect that the jellyfish died after being caught in the fishermen’s nets. Now floating in the tidal waters, it should investigate whether pollution or other causes are behind many jellyfish deaths.
If people come in contact with dead jellyfish lying on the beach, it may cause various problems, including itching.”
He also claimed that these jellyfish disappear with the tide after a certain period.
Fisheries scientists say that there are several species of jellyfish in the sea. The floating jellyfish are box species. Despite the name fish, jellyfish is not a fish.
Delwar Hossain, General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar Fishing Boat Owners Association, reported that more than 4,000 trawlers have gone into the sea to catch Hilsa despite the extreme heat.
An average of 300 trawlers are returning to Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Pekua, and Chakriar ghats along the district Fisarighat of the city. However, there are no reports of any trawlers catching jellyfish.
