Hong Kong Jellyfish Project needs your help!
The Hong Kong Jellyfish Project (HKJP) is a citizen science initiative seeking more information about jellyfish found in Hong Kong waters. The ocean is vast and the HKJP needs your help to find, record and submit more jellyfish sightings!
When you are out in or on the water, either kayaking, swimming, paddling, sailing, or even riding a ferry and see a jellyfish, please take a photo and share it with us. Download species poster (or click on poster below to download).
Please let us know:
Species? If you know it or can identify from the poster and take a photo.
Where? Location and/or geographical coordinates. Coastal waters, offshore, stranded.
When? Date and time.
How many? 1, <10, 10-100, 100-500, 500-1000, more than 1000.
Additional information
Space between individuals? 10 cm, < 1m, 1-5m, 5-10m, 10-20m, more than 20m.
Individuals per square meter? <10, 10-100, 100-500, more than 500.
Observation made while: Fishing, sailing, diving, swimming, walking along the coast.
Even not seeing jellyfish is important information, so let us know if the sea is clear!
Have you been stung by a jellyfish? Let us know more about it.
About the Hong Kong Jellyfish Project
The Hong Kong Jellyfish Project (HKJP) is a citizen science initiative seeking more information about jellyfish found in Hong Kong waters. Citizen science involves anyone with an interest in the natural world contributing their time and efforts to advance scientific knowledge.
Why is this project being done?
The Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) records six species of jellyfish as occurring in Hong Kong waters, however many people have seen even more species and shown them on social media or nature-based apps. The Hong Kong Jellyfish Project wants to hear about your jellyfish sightings - record sightings and submit them, with photos, on the HKJP website.
Where is this project happening?
This project is taking place all over Hong Kong. Anywhere you can find jellyfish in Hong Kong waters (ocean, reservoirs, etc.), HKJP wants to know about what you find.
Who can participate?
ANYONE! When you are out kayaking, swimming, paddling, sailing, or even riding a ferry and see a jellyfish, take a photo and share it with us. Jellyfish presence can be hard to monitor, so getting everyone involved is the best way to find them!
How will the results be used?
The HKJP will use the sightings to compile data about the distribution and abundance of jellyfish. This data can be combined with environmental data to learn more about jellyfish presence and the causes of blooms, as well as the environmental impacts, both causes and consequences of jellyfish. This can also provide data for recommendations to watersports groups about jellyfish safety. It may be possible to discover new species in Hong Kong waters and update the Hong Kong Register of Marine Species.
Yifei GU at The University of Hong Kong TIDE Group put together a WebGIS map of jellyfish sightings from 2021. Click the button to take a look at what was reported from all over Hong Kong.
Learm more about Hong Kong's jellyfish by reading these peer-reviewed publications from the Hong Kong Jellyfish Project. Citizen scientists just like you contributed their sightings and made this research possible! Share your sightings of jellyfish in Hong Kong and contribute to scientific knowledge about these fascinating creatures!