Are Jellyfish The Nuanced Anti-Nuclear Activists Earth Needs?
- Samudra Conservation
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
By Sarah Drego, Samudra Conservation
For decades, scientists and diplomats have debated the utilization of nuclear energy - a force so feral, its effects linger years later in our sea, soil and DNA.
Nuclear power serves as a clean source of energy, offering a clean solution to the climate crisis as it generates almost no CO2 - an effective alternative to fossil fuels and a potential boon to humanity!
Yet history reminds us of the destruction that occurs when this superpower swings out of control - in historical tragedies like Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945) and Chernobyl (1986).
Over the years and even till date, governments, activists, and industries continue to clash over the role of nuclear power in our shared future.
But now an unexpected voice has joined this discussion. One that comes not from protest lines or policy tables — but from the ocean itself.
AUGUST 10, GRAVELINES NUCLEAR POWER STATION - NORD, FRANCE
Bordering the North Sea at the northern tip of France, lies Gravelines Nuclear Power Station - a massive complex, responsible for providing around 6% of France’s electricity.
With 6 reactors, all constantly working to meet the country's growing electric demands, this nuclear power plant uses water from the North Sea as a coolant. This is essential to tame the heat generated from radioactive decay.
But what happens if the coolant is unavailable? The answer is simple - the plant is unable to generate nuclear energy, temporarily shut down and face a loss of millions of dollars.
That’s exactly what happened on August 10th.
The plant was forced to shut down after its cooling system was choked by an unexpected blockade - closing down 3 out of its 6 reactors.
Who or what could be responsible for this?
A terrorist attack? Cyber breach? Or.. environmental protest?
The culprit? Simple but unimaginable.
Jellyfish.
These seemingly harmless swarms of jelly drift into the plant’s intake pipes, forcing a temporary shutdown - a quiet, gelatinous act of resistance.
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
This isn’t the first time jellyfish have silently taken an anti-nuclear stand.
Over the years, multiple nuclear facilities have reported similar instances where a sudden bloom in jellyfish have caused a blockage in their cooling systems bringing all nuclear generation to a standstill.
These cnidarians are single-handedly responsible for repeated shut down of major nuclear centres like Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant, Sweden (2005, 2013), Diablo Canyon Power Plant, California (2008), and Torness Nuclear Power Station, Scotland (2011).
Paluel Nuclear Plant, was stuck in similar fix on 3rd September 2025 when one of France’s largest plants was clogged by jellyfish - marking the cnidarians second attack on France’s nuclear production.
From France to Florida, these unassuming drifters have repeatedly disrupted some of the most advanced energy infrastructures on Earth.
Though this metaphorical activism may be interpreted as poetic justice - nature revolting against anthropogenic abuse- these shutdowns also hint at something larger…
The rise of jellyfish populations worldwide, and the climatic forces driving their dominance.
WHY ARE JELLYFISH POPULATIONS INCREASING
As we know, the oceans are warming - quietly, steadily, and catastrophically.
As sea temperatures rise, oxygen levels drop and ecosystems begin to shift. Species that once flourished in cooler, oxygen-rich waters struggle to survive.
But the jellyfish? They prosper!
These marine invertebrates thrive where others fail.
With simple bodies and efficient life cycles, jellyfish flourish in low-oxygen, high-temperature, and high-pollution conditions. Overfishing removes their predators - turtles, sunfish, and large pelagic fish. And to make matters better (for them, ofcourse) agricultural runoff and aquaculture effluents create plankton-rich waters that feed their blooms.
Even the coastal infrastructure humans build such as harbours, jetties, oil rigs, and artificial reefs provide surfaces for jellyfish polyps to attach and multiply.
If your every need and desire was readily met, wouldn’t you flourish too?
But this prosperity is a symbol of a deeper imbalance - a clear sign that the marine ecosystem is unraveling, thread by thread.
PROTESTS CLOSER TO HOME
India’s western coast is seeing its own wave of jellyfish prosperity.
Over the last few years, Kerala’s fisherfolk have faced frequent jellyfish blooms along the Malabar coast - from Vizhinjam to Kozhikode. What was once a seasonal occurrence has now become an annual menace.
Nets that were once heavy with sardines and mackerel now come up with the translucent bodies of jellyfish. The stings are painful, the catches spoiled, and the financial losses - shocking.
A stake net would previously capture 11-18kg of fish daily. This amount has dropped to 5kg due to jellyfish overload.
For fishing communities that are already drowning with fuel costs, unpredictable weather, and dwindling stocks, jellyfish blooms are literally the lowest blow.
This surge can be attributed to a combination of warmer waters, eutrophication, and changing monsoon patterns - all linked to climate change. Reduced predation due to overfishing, nutrient-rich runoff from agriculture, and declining oxygen levels near the coast have together made the Arabian Sea a breeding ground for jellyfish.
THE GREATER CONNECTION
Today, on the occasion of World Jellyfish Day, it’s time we acknowledge a fundamental truth.
Perhaps jellyfish aren’t anti-nuclear activists at all. Perhaps they are the ocean’s diplomats with a simple, silent message -
Ecosystem balance is non-negotiable!
In the campaign between jellyfish and development, whose side will we take?
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