A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF PEOPLE ABOUT JELLYFISH ALONG THE SOUTHWEST COASTS OF TURKEY

Year 2018, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 55 - 63, 01.01.2018

Nurçin Killi , Ozan Sağdıç Sibel Cengiz

Abstract

This study is about a questionnary developed to
collect data related awareness of people about jellyfish and injury cases. The
questionnary was distributed to 226 people in the touristic areas of the west
and the southwest regions of Turkey, with the participants consisting of
holiday-makers, people working in the tourism sector, fishermen, divers as well
as local dwellers. Overall, 78% of the participants had previous awareness of
the existence of jellyfish, whereas the remaining 22% had heard about jellyfish
for the first time only. The most known jellyfish species were Aurelia aurita, Cotylorhiza tuberculata, Chrysaora
hysoscella and Rhizostoma pulmo.
In total, 42% of the participants had run into jellyfish at least on one
occasion before. The most common injuries were erythema, itching and
blistering, and two people retained scars caused by Pelagia noctiluca. Of the participants that were injured by
jellyfish, 91% did not seek hospitalisation or health care, 76% were unaware of
the measures necessary following jellyfish injury, and 96% of those who spotted
jellyfish whilst swimming or from the beach did not inform any academic
institution or research organisation. Since jellyfish form swarms that are
usually carried around randomly by currents, it is mandatory that people be
informed about jellyfish blooms and possible related injuries. This is
especially important since jellyfish injury cases are generally not being
recorded from hospitals and health care providers throughout Turkey. The
present questionnary-based study has shown that even people affected by
jellyfish injuries fail to notify relevant institutes or organisations. Further
questionnaries and related projects should be implemented so as to collect data
of jellyfish injuries and to increase people’s awareness of jellyfish-related
risks in other parts of Turkey.

Keywords

Questionnary-based study, Local ecological knowledge, Medusae, Injury, Jellyfish bloom

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