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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Jellyfish -- why do they hate us?
2005-08-10
MADRID (Reuters) - Unusually high concentrations of jellyfish have appeared along Spain's Mediterranean coast this summer, to the discomfort of thousands of tourists, officials said on Wednesday.

The Red Cross said its lifeguards had treated almost 11,000 people for stings on beaches so far this season in the northeastern region of Catalonia alone, twice the number from the same period last year, when the jellyfish count had already begun to rise.

Almunecar on the south coast had to cancel an annual swimming race across the bay last Sunday because of the number of jellyfish in the water shouting "allahu akbar", a town hall spokesman said.

Factors such as the US's rejection of Kyoto, drought, heat and over-fishing all contribute to a rising jellyfish count, said Xavier Pastor, vice president of the international environmental group Oceana. It is also suspected that the Korans flushed down toilets at Guantanamo later floated to the Mediterranean and were read by the jellyfish.

Warmer than usual coastal waters encourage the creatures to venture closer to shore, in search of lower salt concentrations and nutrients in urban waste water and agricultural run-off.

At the same time the Mediterranean's population of larger fish and turtles -- which feed on jellyfish -- has declined.

"This year's crisis is not only affecting the Mediterranean," Pastor said. "In the Azores we recently found high concentrations of Portuguese Man-of-War, which is much more dangerous." The related Spanish Man-of-War has been extinct since March 14, 2004. It's unknown whether a Belgian Man-of-War ever existed.
Posted by:Jackal

#8  Being spineless, most jellyfish voted for Kerry in the last election.
Posted by: Chris W.   2005-08-10 13:39  

#7  Them folk are lucky they aren't in Australia.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-08-10 12:27  

#6  Frank,

Do you mean 5th leg in elephant talk?
Posted by: Poison Reverse   2005-08-10 12:20  

#5  take advantage! The sting can produce swelling and temporary paralysis... swim without shorts, and you'll come out with a wooden leg, if ya know what I mean, and no, not a pirate :-)
Posted by: Frank G   2005-08-10 12:13  

#4  We must try to understand the root cause of the jellyfish hate, maybe it's our policies?
Posted by: Clolutle Sniger6060   2005-08-10 12:05  

#3  "We come in peace to join our spineless friends in Spain"
Posted by: BH   2005-08-10 11:33  

#2  The jellyfish learned from the Spanish troop pullout after the 3-11 bombing.

They have an agenda and will not relent until Zappy drops and gives them twenty.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-08-10 11:23  

#1  
Click Me!
Posted by: BigEd   2005-08-10 11:22  

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