KOCHI: At a time when jellyfish bloom is posing a threat to other species and fishing activities on the Kerala coast and backwaters, fishery experts have called for exploring the prospects of the gelatinous zooplankton for making multiple value- added products and identifying its export value.
At a function held as part of the observance of the World Jellyfish Day at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), a group of fishery scientists observed that the jellyfish, an umbrella-shaped jelly-like aquatic species belonging to phylum ‘Cnidaria,’ has many advantages too.
“The species is commonly considered only as dangerous and troublesome, but it is used as food products, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals and thus has export value,” KUFOS Pro-Vice Chancellor K Padmakumar said.
“Many jellyfish varieties are widely used for making several value-added products in foreign countries, especially in China. It is used as food and also as products such as soups, creams, pickles, dried snacks and muffins. It is a common food variety in China, Japan and Korea,” he added.
He said serious research was required to identify the edible jellyfish varieties in Indian waters. “We are yet to explore the possibilities of the species for making benefits out of it by developing value added products and identifying its pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical importance,” he said.
KUFOS sssociate professor Manoj Kumar said the increased presence of jellyfish along the southwest coast of India was feared to impact tourism and fishing activities.