Jellyfish in the Hawkesbury River
In eastern Australia, the ‘blubber’ jellyfish (Catostylus mosaicus) often form spectacular population blooms, but they tend to be transient events. However since October 2022, jellyfish have been observed in large quantities particularly within the Hawkesbury estuary.
Jellyfish are notorious for impacting on recreational activities like swimming and boating, but they can also disrupt commercial fisheries operations when present in large densities. A group of researchers from Griffith University, James Cook University & University of NSW in partnership with a group of Hawkesbury estuary managers and commercial fishers are looking at the environmental drivers resulting in jellyfish blooms in the Hawkesbury estuary.
Share your observations and help us better understand where these jelly blubbers are congregating within the Hawkesbury.