Jellyfish mitigation for net-based fisheries: A qualitative systematic review

Jellyfish blooms pose significant challenges to net-based fisheries, causing economic losses and operational difficulties. This study reviews existing strategies and proposes novel methods for mitigating jellyfish for net-based fisheries. A systematic literature search identified 35 publications that specifically discussed jellyfish mitigation for net-based fisheries, which were categorised into coping, adapting, and transforming strategies. Coping strategies include relocating vessels to avoid jellyfish; manually removing jellyfish bycatch and repairing fishing gear; government subsidies; and processing facilities imposing financial penalties when receiving catches contaminated with jellyfish. Adapting strategies involve the use of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs), reconfiguring nets, and using predictive models to provide advanced warnings of jellyfish blooms. Transformative strategies encompass attempts to remove medusae and jellyfish polyps from the environment and pivoting fisheries to harvest jellyfish. Most methods used by fishers to mitigate jellyfish have remained largely unchanged for many decades. Technological advancements, such as intelligent nets and real-time monitoring, however, are beginning to offer innovative solutions but may be prohibitively expensive for small-scale fisheries. The study highlights the need for collaboration among stakeholders to develop sustainable jellyfish mitigation strategies; and to resolve and forecast the causes of jellyfish blooms.