Conclusion
Once on the ‘jellyfish joyride’, management actions appear
to be difficult and uncertain, so the precautionary approach
suggests that emphasis needs to be placed on prevention
rather than cure. Directed and concerted early action could
be crucial to avert large-scale alteration of pelagic ecosystems.
The potential replacement of fisheries resources by
jellyfish in many regions is concerning in a world with an
expanding population in developing countries dependent
upon protein from the sea. A sobering quote from Daniel
Pauly, possibly the most widely cited fisheries biologist,
portends the future if we do not act proactively and in an
integrated fashion to apply the brakes on the jellyfish
joyride: ‘My kids will tell their children: eat your jellyfish!’