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  Today Online 13 Oct 06
Out of the blue, a jellyfish is born
Sheralyn Tay sheralyn@mediacorp.com.sg

Channel NewsAsia 12 Oct 06
Republic Poly breeds aquaculture successfully in captivity
By Satish Cheney

SINGAPORE: Students at Republic Polytechnic are revoluntionizing the aqua farming industry with the help from baby jellyfish and a few sea monkeys.

Armed with a mere budget of $2000, the students have created history in their school carpark. They have managed to breed the most difficult species to grow in captivity - jellyfish.

Using seawater from Changi beach and a simple filtration system, this is the first documented case of such jellyfish breeding in Singapore. What this means is that Singapore may have created a brand new industry, by cultivating marine creatures in a controlled environment.

"We'll be trying for other types of fish species like garoupa and threadfin because the most important thing is being able to maintain water quality. If we are able to succeed with jellyfish, it'll be a short step away from success with other aquaculture species as well," said Aldrin Ho, Head (Systems Project), Republic Polytechnic.

To feed the jellyfish, the students used seamonkeys. "It's scientifically known as Artemia. It's widely available. You can buy it from 7-11 if I am not wrong," said Peh Wei Siang, Student, Republic Polytechnic.

The secret behind the success lies in the special treatment of the water which remains a secret with a patent to be applied soon. - CNA /dt

Today Online 13 Oct 06
Out of the blue, a jellyfish is born
Sheralyn Tay sheralyn@mediacorp.com.sg

LOVED by Asian diners, but not quite by scuba divers, the jellyfish has long been an elusive creature to breed in captivity.

But in what could be a world's first, a team of students at Republic Polytechnic (RP) has successfully bred hundreds of the marine creatures--an achievement that could well appease both camps.

It started out as an attempt to breed a whole other species, explained head of systems projects Mr Aldrin Ho who supervised the project.

"We brought in raw sea water from Changi with the intent to grow lobster fry, but while treating the water, jellyfish spores escaped into the same water," he said.

Three weeks, later, the team noticed that Bubbler jellyfish--tiny 1cm-sized creatures--had hatched and were breeding at a rapid rate. It was "quite a surprise" for the team, said Mr Ho.

"It's exciting because, at this point in time, we haven't heard of any documented proof of the farming of jellyfish (but) we're actually doing it in a captive environment."

While the breeding project is still a learning exercise for students, he said that there was definitely commercial viability in the future. "If we can grow this species of jellyfish, then growing the edible type isn't far off."

Currently, thousands of jellyfish are hatching, growing and reproducing in a large fibreglass tank filled with two tonnes of specially treated seawater, a method developed and soon to be patented by RP.

"Jellyfish are very fragile. If we are able to succeed with jellyfish, we are a short step away from success in other aquaculture species as well," he said, giving garoupa and threadfin as examples.

Cold dishes aside, farmed jellyfish could end up on Petri-dishes to advance medical science.

Like all jellyfish, Bubbler jellyfish are slightly toxic, causing mild itching when they come in contact with human skin. But others like the Irukandji Jellyfish or Box Jellyfish are highly venomous.

The successful breeding of jellyfish in captivity could mean the development of life-saving vaccines or anti-venom. "We would be able to produce a steady supply of jellyfish vaccines," said Mr Ho.
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