Nuclear power plant attacked by giant jellyfish

They are six feet wide, with long tentacles which sting humans, poison other fish and obstruct nuclear power plants - these killer jellyfish sound like a film-maker's fantasy but in reality they are causing havoc for Japanese power plants.

Known as Nomura's jellyfish, the Echizen kurage threaten to drift into the Sea of Japan and block seawater cooler pumps in the sea which linked to nuclear reactors. The giant pink jellyfish have been spotted by Asian fishermen in the Yellow Sea near China and Korea and having been destroying fishing nets and poisoning fish.

Japan's nuclear plants seem to have a slight jellyfish problem. In 2006, reactors at the Chubu Electric Power Co's plant in Hamaoka needed to reduce their output after jellyfish blocked the seawater cooling system.

The increase in population of the Nomura is a strange and unaccounted for phenomenon puzzling jellyfish authorities. Some believe the cause is global warming, giving ripe conditions for gigantic growth - others think the problem stems from overfishing leaving certain species space to grow.

Some scientists have found a way to extract certain pharmaceuticals and cosmetics from the slimy fish and one Japanese company even uses frozen ice cubes of the Nomura in its vanilla and jellyfish ice cream. But for most, they remain a huge seawater pest. And for nuclear power stations a real worry.

Like this article? Get the RSS feed: