The impact of jellyfish blooms on the Maltese aquaculture industry

Abstract

In order to assess the impact of jellyfish blooms on the Maltese aquaculture industry, a survey, in the form of a questionnaire, was developed under the framework of the EU funded ‘MED-JELLYRISK Project’ (http://jellyrisk.eu). The survey questionnaire consisted of twenty questions, and was set up with the objective of gathering baseline data on the perception of aquaculture workers on the impacts of jellyfish blooms on local fish farms. The methodology involved the use of the ‘mixed methods approach’, where primary data was collected in both quantitative and qualitative forms in order to understand the blooms impact more thoroughly. Within such a method of research, the ‘parallel mixed design’ approach was followed, where simultaneous collection of quantitative and qualitative data was conducted.