CNR-ISPAparticipates in European research project on the use of jellyfish blooms as solutions for producing new products.

Global climate change and the human impact on marine ecosystems result in decreasing the number of fish in the ocean. Since overfishing decreases the numbers of jellyfish competitors, their blooms are in rise. They are regarded as annoying and even dangerous. The GoJelly project, coordinated by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Germany, would like to change this perception and use jellyfish as source to produce microplastic filter, fertilizer, fish feed or human food. The European Union now approved its funding of EUR 6 million.

In the project, Dr.Antonella Leone and her team at CNR-ISPA of Lecce, Italy, willstudy biochemical / nutraceutical /microbiological and nutritional features of Mediterranean and European jellyfish for their possible exploitation as food or food ingredient or source of bioactive compounds.

The Italian peninsula and their two large islands placed in the centre of the Mediterranean have a total coastline measures 7,468 km so,the marine ecosystems are considered pivotal for sustainable social and economic development.Based on already acquired scientific skills and knowledge, in the framework of GoJelly project, CNR-ISPA researchers will continue their activities on the studies of jellyfish biomass, also in collaboration with local companies, developing the opportunity to use the potential of jellyfish as biological resource in order to promote the development of innovative and sustainable products. 

Contact:

Dr. Antonella Leone, PhD

e-mail: antonella.leone@ispa.cnr.it

Tel. +39 0832422615