Puri: Thousands of rare Blue Button jellyfish have washed ashore dead along the Chandrabhaga sea beach near the Ramachandi estuary, raising concerns among environmentalists and marine experts.
Preliminary observations suggest that the rise in sea surface temperature, linked to climate change and pollution, may have caused the mass death. Warmer waters are known to disrupt marine ecosystems and weaken the survival of sensitive species like these jellyfish.
Blue Button jellyfish, though small, play a crucial role in the marine food chain. They serve as a primary food source for species such as Olive Ridley turtles and whales. Experts note that any disruption in the balance—whether due to a decline in Olive Ridley populations or other ecological factors—can lead to large numbers of jellyfish floating to the surface and eventually being washed ashore.
Health experts have also cautioned that contact with these jellyfish may cause skin rashes or infections in humans.
This is not the first such incident at Chandrabhaga; similar mass stranding of Blue Button jellyfish have been reported in previous years. The recurrence highlights the urgent need to address rising sea temperatures and marine pollution.
