Haven’t heard of the Pearl Standard? Then you are not alone, because few people have it.
But the jellyfish is not unknown to scientists and fishermen. There have now been over 100 observations of the venomous jellyfish from the Oslofjord in Troms, according to the Marine Research Institute.
The surprising figures make marine researcher Tone Falkenhaug fear that there will be another round of mass deaths among Norwegian farmed fish. He believes the main problem is that researchers have too little knowledge of the pearl standard.
– There are many things we don’t know. For example because they come so suddenly or because they are so poisonous, marine researcher Tone Falkenhaug tells Dagbladet.
LACK OF RESEARCH: Marine researcher Tone Falkenhaug believes he knows too little about the Normanet pearl. Photo: Erlend Astad Lorentzen / Marine Research Institute
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The Perlesnormanet probably comes from the Atlantic Ocean and is brought to Norway by the current. According to Falkenhaug, it is at this time of year that Norway receives water from the Atlantic Ocean. This is also the time when jellyfish tend to appear.
The annual visit
The jellyfish, which may look like a “pearl necklace”, is more poisonous than it looks. The only contact with it is a death sentence for the fish. The Perlesnormanet can be up to 30 meters long and has now made another visit to Norwegian waters.
In 1997, the jellyfish arrived in Norway for the first time, and again in 2001. The Perlesnormanet caused mass death in agriculture in both Øygarden and Fedje during the visit.
Of course, it was the fish that took the greatest burden. Up to a thousand tons of fish were killed by the massacres of the jellyfish.
– In retrospect, it has been observed that the Normanet pearl returns to Norway every autumn until the beginning of winter, without doing much damage, says the marine scientist.
Fish die from burns and stress
The Perlesnormanet is not new to anglers and can be a breeder’s worst nightmare if they occupy the cage.
– Perlesnormanets live in long colonies, where individuals in the colony have different tasks. Some advance, others have to capture food, and others are responsible for reproduction, explains Falkenhaug.
TOXIC: they are individuals with food and defense responsibilities who have threads of fire and are poisonous. Photo: Erling Svensen / Marine Research Institute
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When the colony hits the breeding cages, the colony is supposed to break up into smaller pieces and manage to squeeze through the meshes. This is how they approach fish farming.
– We know very little about these jellyfish, but if they come in contact with the fish, they get fatal burns, says Falkenhaug.
If I’m inside, it’s too late.
According to the Institute of Marine Research, fish have also been reported to experience severe stress in the presence of jellyfish.
People should also keep their fingers away, as burning strands may not be life-threatening, but they do sting.
WITH THE CURRENT: Researchers assume that the jellyfish comes with the current from the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Erling Svensen / Marine Research Institute
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How to save fishermen and fish from stress
– Very little research is done on jellyfish, mainly because they are difficult to catch, explains Falkenhaug.
Falkenhaug asks people to inform researchers about the chain’s observations. There are no reports of serious mortality so far, but he fears there may be.
If you see something that looks like a pearl necklace in the water, they want you to take a picture and send it to them Dedication to the sea.
