Stung!: On Jellyfish Blooms and the Future of the Ocean

Stung! examines jellyfish blooms and what they reveal about ocean health. As oceans become less hospitable to most marine life, jellyfish populations are thriving—a sign of serious environmental decline. Jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin explains that these creatures flourish in conditions created by mechanized trawling, habitat degradation, coastal construction, pollution, and climate change. They require few predators and competitors, warmer waters for rapid growth, and suitable places for larvae to develop. Oceans unfavorable to fish tend to favor jellyfish. Beyond their role as indicators of marine destruction, jellyfish are complex creatures with fascinating behaviors and adaptations. Gershwin shares stories of jellyfish species both beautiful and dangerous, tracing their history back to the Proterozoic era when they were the ocean's top predators—before fish, mammals, or turtles existed. She explores how jellyfish now move into vulnerable ecosystems as agents of ecological change. The book presents the history of jellyfish as inseparable from the history of the world's oceans, offering an urgent perspective on their interconnected futures.