Extermination of jellyfish in Caspian shows success

Measures taken to reduce the numbers of mnemiopsis jellyfish that
entered the Caspian Sea through the Volga-Don and had negative effect
on the biosphere of the sea are bringing results, Trend reports,
citing a source from Azerbaijani Ministry of Ecology and Natural
Resources.

Mnemiopsis is a species of the comb jellyfish living in seawater in
warm regions. It consumes zooplankton.

The Ministry of Ecology said that the situation in the northern part
of the Caspian stabilized due to the measures taken in the last 3
years. There are positive results in the middle part of the sea.

Mnemiopsis living in the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of America
reached the Black Sea in 1987, then entered the Azov Sea. In 1999 it
reached the Caspian Sea using Volga-Don line.

The ministry said that mnemiopsis consumes the zooplankton, the main
food source of sprat. The population of sprat in the sea dropped by
60%. This led to a reduction of bigger fish and seals.