Did you know that jellyfish can help us in the fight against microplastics?

Marine and coastal pollution resulting from the presence of plastic microplastics poses a serious threat to the environment. The EU-funded GoJelly project aims to address these problems simultaneously by developing, testing and promoting some innovative solution.

The GoJelly project focuses on creation of a prototype TRL 5-6 microplastic filter using jellyfish mucus as raw material. This solution will effectively remove microplastic pollution from the seas and coastal areas. In addition, it will create employment opportunities for commercial fishermen, generate valuable by-products and provide resources for the food and feed industry as well as organic farming. Prototype GoJelly products will be tested and demonstrated in three different European seas (Norwegian, Baltic and Mediterranean) by a range of stakeholders, including industry partners.

Using one problem to solve another is the main idea behind the GoJelly project. The initiative has been receiving financial support from the European Union since the beginning of 2018. Its main objective is to create an innovative filter that would bind microplastic particles in wastewater treatment plants, eliminating those that are not removed by the standard recycling process.

"The mucus secreted by jellyfish acts on plastic particles like glue"., says the project chairman. The team of researchers therefore came up with the idea of using this process as an effective filter.

The result will be less plastic in the ocean and therefore more jobs for commercial fishermen outside the jellyfish harvesting season.

Source: https://gojelly.eu/about/.