Forecasting risk of exposure to dangerous jellyfish

Surveys to determine abundance patterns of jellyfishes across the continental shelf was undertaken over three summers starting in December 2007.  Sampling was done in three strata at inner, mid and outer-shelf reef or island sites and an inshore beam-trawl survey.  The beam trawl survey was done near-to and away-from rivers in 1-2 m and 4-5 m of water.  The jellyfishing was conducted at night for one hour per site utilising underwater lights to attract jellyfish to the research vessel.  Each location was sampled at two sites and replicated. In all sampling designs all target species were recorded and/or collected. Some collections have been used for studies on genetics and elemental fingerprints.