CREPSUM-IOC/WESTPAC Online Workshop on Jellyfish Identification

1. About the event

Southeast Asia is a hotspot of jellyfish diversity. However, there have been a limited number of taxonomic studies of jellyfish in Southeast Asia. Early taxonomical studies were done by the Europeans and Americans in early 1900s. After then, jellyfish studies were conducted by SE Asian researchers. As many were not specialized in jellyfish taxonomy, therefore there are many misidentifications. In recent years, the study of jellyfish in Southeast Asia has become more active. The ability to classify not only Scyphozoa including large edible jellyfish, but also Cubozoa, Hydrozoa and Staurozoa has become a necessity. The need to conduct capacity development on jellyfish identification is more urgent now due to the increasing incidences of jellyfish stings, some of which even caused casualties.

Building on the established research network and present knowledge, this workshop, scheduled for 17-18 March 2022, will focus on the classical and molecular taxonomy of jellyfish.

This workshop is a collaboration between JSPS-CREPSUM (Collaborative Research and Education Project in Southeast Asia for Sustainable Use of Marine Ecosystem) and IOC/WESTPAC, led by Kitasato University (Japan) and Centre For Marine & Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia).

2. Objectives

• This workshop aims to : learn and master the identification methods for each of the jellyfish taxa

• improve the understanding, and develop regional capability of research and monitoring of jellyfish blooms in the Western Pacific and its adjacent areas

• share information on current status of jellyfish occurrences, hazard awareness and research in each country

• explore the possibility of building a jellyfish joint research on jellyfish diversity, distribution, and abundance.

3. Who will participate?

Participants will be invited from the current members of JSPS-CREPSUM and IOC/WESTPAC. Other participants, who are interested to join the network or develop collaborations, will also be welcomed. The participants should have some basic experience conducting jellyfish related research and monitoring, and/or able to lead and carry out jellyfish research and monitoring in their countries for moving forward.

The workshop will be conducted online. Invited presentations will be given on different groups of jellyfish and discuss on the present practices of monitoring harmful jellyfish and the basic knowledge for the identification of harmful jellyfish.

National experts nominated and/or identified from each country will be invited to provide follow-up reports on:

1. major issues on harmful jellyfish in the respective countries;

2. research and monitoring efforts of the harmful jellyfish;

3. related education and awareness activities if any; and

4. what they believe is required and important for a regional collaborative network.