Raw waste may trigger deadly jellyfish blooms

Thorough work: Research assistants combing the sea off Batu Ferringhi grid by grid with a special net designed to trap jellyfish. — Photo courtesy of Cemacs

GEORGE TOWN: Raw animal waste pouring into the sea from mainland Valdor will potentially cause destructive jellyfish blooms that create “dead zones” in the sea around Penang, a marine biologist says.

Jellyfish can increase and gather in such large numbers that they crowd out all other sea life, said Datuk Prof Dr Aileen Tan.