Research vessel Aranda to chart distribution of comb jellies in Baltic Sea

The research vessel Aranda, belonging to the Finnish Institute of Marine Research, left for a voyage on Monday in order to monitor the state of the Baltic Sea.
     
Alarming numbers of comb jellies (Mnemiopsis ledyi) have been detected in parts of the Baltic, and the purpose of Aranda’s expedition is to evaluate the presence of comb jellies in the northern part of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
      A number of researchers from Finland, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Estonia, and Sweden will participate in the expedition on board Aranda.
      Another research vessel, the Finnish Environment Institute's Muikku, also set off on Monday in order to study the algae situation and the amount of nutrients in the coastal waters in the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
      Moreover, Muikku is also to observe the presence of comb jellies, which are an invasive species and regarded as a significant threat to fish stocks.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Comb jellies threaten fish stocks off Helsinki (21.4.2008)
  Invasive comb jellies now found throughout Baltic Sea (17.12.2007)
  Comb jelly poses serious threat to Baltic Sea ecosystem (27.8.2007)

See also:
  What will happen to the Aranda brand? (27.5.2008)

Links:
  Finnish Institute of Marine Research
  Aranda cruises
  Finnish Environment Institute
  Global Invasive Species Database: Mnemiopsis ledyi (comb jelly)