Impacts of jellyfish on marine cage aquaculture: an overview of existing knowledge and the challenges to finfish health

Abstract Gelatinous plankton present a challenge to marine fish aquaculture that remains be addressed. Shifting distributions, suggested by some result of factors such as climate change and overfishing, appear exacerbated anthropogenic linked directly aquaculture. Fish health can negatively influenced exposure the cnidarian hydrozoan scyphozoan life stages commonly referred “jellyfish”. Impact is particularly pronounced in gill tissue, where three key outcomes are described; direct traumatic damage, impaired function, initiation secondary disease. Cnidarian jellyfish demonstrated impact include Cyanea capillata, Aurelia aurita, Pelagia noctiluca. Further coelenterates have also been associated with harm fish, including sessile polyps species Ectopleura larynx. An accurate picture inshore planktic densities within coastal environments would aid understanding concern, their upon health, This information however presently lacking. review summarises available literature regarding gelatinous on finfish aquaculture, focus health. Present strategies monitoring mitigation presented, alongside identified critical knowledge gaps.