New Victorian Jellyfish Fishery

[glen]

Anyone been catyching any jellyfish lately? I saw this and thought it was interesting. I didn't really think we had enough jelly fish in victoria to bother setting up a commercial fishery but apparently we do! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT



Environmental Assessment of the Victorian Developmental Jellyfish Fishery under the EPBC Act (Victoria)



Source & full text: [url="http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/index.html"]http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/index.html[/url]



Closing date for comments is Friday 10 November 2006.



The Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) has received a submission – Statement of Management Arrangements for the Victorian Developmental Jellyfish Fishery (Catostylus mosaicus) from the Department of Primary Industries, Victoria. The report has been prepared against the Australian Government Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries (the Guidelines). The submission will be used to assess the operation of the fishery for the purposes of Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).



Consideration will be given to:



- declaring the Victorian Developmental Jellyfish Fishery, as managed consistent with the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995 , as an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation under section 303FN of the EPBC Act; and



- including on the list of exempt native specimens, specimens harvested in the Victorian Developmental Jellyfish Fishery in accordance with the Victorian Fisheries Act 1995.



In accordance with the provisions of sections 303FR and 303DC of the EPBC Act, you are invited to comment on this proposal.



Electronic copies of the Guidelines and the submission are available from the DEH website at [url="http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/index.html"]http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/fisheries/index.html[/url]

[glen]

Here is an exert from the Victorian management plan:

DEVELOPMENTAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN

FISHERIES DIVISION - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

JELLYFISH - (Catostylus mosaicus) 2003 - 2005



1. Background

Dried jellyfish (sold mostly in dried discs of 30 – 40 cm in diameter) is a highly

regarded food item in many Asian countries, especially in Japan where it is

considered to be a delicacy. Traditionally, jellyfish are a food source comprising

low fat and high protein qualities, which are recognised for their health qualities.

The basis of quality assessment is on size, texture, colour and especially in Japan

the crunchiness of the dry salted product.



The Chinese and Japanese jellyfish markets are currently supplied with catch taken

in Thailand, Malaysia and China, but increasing demand has created opportunities

for Australian involvement. Market research indicates a shortage in both Chinese

and Japanese markets and importers could accept 1000 processed tonnes (10,000

wet tonnes) at USD $8-10 (AUS $13 - $16) per wholesale processed kilo (Grade B

product). The demand for jellyfish product is growing by 25% per annum.



The Rhizostome jellyfish Catostylus mosaicus is an Australian (Eastern and

Northern seaboards) native species and is often found in large numbers in

Victoria's bays and inlets. This species has been shown through marketing trials

carried out by David Glory Group Pty Ltd to be acceptable to the Asian market.

Estimates indicate that several thousand tonnes can be taken during some years

from Port Phillip, Western Port and Corner Inlet. The developmental fishery was

activated in 1999 following the release of the report titled "Feasibility Study for

the Development of a Commercial Jellyfish Fishery in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria,

MAFRI, (November 1997)". The report indicated that in Port Phillip Bay alone

there is a biomass of C. mosaicus ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 tonnes during the

summer and autumn months from February to June.



More recent MAFRI research suggests that the abundance is extremely variable. In 2001 the commercial biomass ranged from 7,500 wet tonnes to 17,000 wet tonnes. In 2001 this was down by 80%. Initial

indications are that the species was most abundant in Port Phillip Bay and Corner

Inlet. Stock abundance are likely to be connected to water temperature and

salinity.

[Jazman]

[quote name='glen' post='7579' date='Oct 25 2006, 12:37 PM']Anyone been catyching any jellyfish lately? I saw this and thought it was interesting. I didn't really think we had enough jelly fish in victoria to bother setting up a commercial fishery but apparently we do! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]

That is interesting. I see a lot of different jellyfish while kayaking and diving, I was interested in which particular one the fishery is targetting, so I googled the scientific name - the first thing I found out was that the sceintific name of the jellyfish was misspelt in the initial document, it should have been Catostylus mosaicus. The jellies are the big 'classic' looking jellyfish which are common in PPB at different times of the year. I found the picture below at [url="http://www2.eve.ucdavis.edu/mndawson/tS/Syst/Rhi/C_mosaicus_i.html"]http://www2.eve.ucdavis.edu/mndawson/tS/Sy...mosaicus_i.html[/url], it is of one of these jellies in the Georges river, NSW.

[glen]

Hi jazman, thanks for pointing out those spelling errors. It was actually spelt wrong in the article at the top plus in the main text of the second article and so I have fixed the mistakes.



See below for another picture of the jellyfish out of the water (from the management plan referred to above). I have seen these jellyfish while floundering at night.



Has anyone ever tried eating dried jellyfish before?



I have never seen it for sale but i am guessing you could buy it in asian grocery stores.



Cheers, Glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Steeny]

i've seen heaps of these while floundering, and also washed up on beaches



i never knew that there was anything edible on the jellies, but i guess if there is, trust the chinese and japanese to have found it out.

[glen]

the management plan says they are supposed to be high in protein.



however, i would have thought they were 99% water so it seems like a lot of effort to get that 1%!!! <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Nyghtfire]

personally i would not prepare anything possibly poisonous for myself i would eat it though but only if done by proffesionals...

[Nautilusly]

yah they are definitely edible! usually served cold with vinegar dressing. I guess they will strink too much if you cook it. Its not much of a flavor to eat, but they have a very special crunchy texture. I dont think these are poisous species since we eat both the body and the tenticles <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':th' />