An EU project led by the German Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research is looking for jellyfish with a talent for catching microplastics.

The objective is to develop, test and promote a gelatinous solution to microplastic pollution by developing a microplastics filter (GoJelly) for commercial and public use. The main raw material would be jellyfish mucus acting as a biofilter by adsorbing both micro and nanoplastics. The idea is that the biofilter could be used, for example in municipal water treatment plants to stop plastic particles from getting in to the sea.

Researchers and fishermen will be harvesting jellyfish from Norweigan waters as well as the Mediterranean and the Baltic identifying species that produces the most mucus, and to finding effective methods for harvesting and storage of the jellyfish. Click here to read more