The Spot the Jellyfish Campaign has announced that the annual fried egg jellyfish migration season has hit Malta again.

Hundreds of the Cotylorhiza tuberculata have been spotted by the public, around Comino, Gozo, Wied iz-Zurrieq and other popular beach spots. Testimony to the precise timing of the occurrence of the fried egg jellyfish swarms, the species is also known locally as tal-lampuki, in reference to the dolphin fish which is also caught at this time of the year. It’s other moniker is the qassata – given its resemblance to the Maltese pastry treat.

Although the creatures might look rather frightening, they are actually an innocuous species andthey do not sting. In fact, young lampuki fry use them to hide when they are still in the very young juvenile stage and vulnerable to predators. They do not harm humans and they can also be handled below the sea surface, as well as above water. Their short tentacles do not cause any damage to human skin and they do not sting. In fact, the creatures live in symbiosis with a species of algae, which is why they float close to the surface.

When seen below the surface, these creatures are a brilliant yellow and feature very bright purple spots on them. If you are lucky enough to encounter a swarm of them while diving on snorkelling, it is quite a spectacle to behold.

Malta’s usual jellyfish visitors are the mauve stingers, which can cause quite nasty stings and irritations. Coupled with the sighting of new invasive box jellyfish, the fear factor can take over, and that is what happens every year.

Despite the fact that repeated announcements are made, to the effect that the species are harmless, hundreds of people take it upon themselves to fish the creatures out of the water, for fear that they may hurt people. Once they are taken out of the sea, they look like big brown lumps of gloop.

Jellyfish are the staple food of sea turtles, the numbers of which are becoming fewer and fewer every year around the Maltese islands. In killing these creatures, we are not only culling innocent creatures for absolutely no reason, but we are also reducing the food supply of some endangered aquatic animals. In court, ignorance of the fact that a crime has been committed is not enough to secure an acquittal. Similarly, in this case, ignorance of the fact that these species are harmless does not exculpate us or relieve us of our responsibilities of the supposed guardians of the environment.

Just like with everything else, fear seems to motivate humans more than any other emotion. If we wish to save the environment, that is one this that we have to change.