Jellyfish has always been considered an inedible and therefore useless catch by the fishing communities in the country’s coastal districts. Despite never being considered as commercially viable, new research by Bangladeshi scientists indicates jellyfish can eventually become a source of export earnings.
Like elsewhere, the coast of Bangladesh too plays host to a large number of jellyfish. However, the researchers do not yet know how many jellyfish there are in the waters of Bangladesh. This amount will have to be verified in the research they have now started.
Made up of 90 percent water, jellyfish have no brain, blood, or bones.
Scientists say that the number of jellyfish depends largely on the salinity and temperature of the water. Due to the lack of rain this year, the salinity of the seawater was high, resulting in an abundance of jellyfish washing up on shore.
Md. Rashed-Un-Nabi, Professor, Department of Fisheries, Chittagong University told UNB, “Many countries in the world are researching how to use jellyfish, we have also started research. It shows that it has a lot of economic potential.”
Scientists saw a boom or excess of jellyfish on Patuakhali beach and Cox’s Bazar beach in August. At that time, many fishermen were forced to cut their nets because they were filled with jellyfish.
Golam Mostafa, associate professor of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) said,
“We can divide the jellyfish found in the sea of Bangladesh into three categories.”
“One is edible jellyfish. We don’t eat it here. But it is in demand as food in Taiwan, Vietnam,
Thailand, and China. Each of these jellyfish can weigh up to 8 to 10 kg,” he said.