Experiment with a Medusa-targeting device to be conducted in the Azov Sea
In a recent announcement, Vasily Sokolov, Deputy Head of Rosrybolovstvo, revealed plans for an experiment to clean the Azov Sea of jellyfish starting from 2025. However, as of late July 2025, there is no confirmed or reported program aimed at cleaning the Azov Sea from jellyfish scheduled to begin in August-September 2025.
Rosrybolovstvo, the organisation responsible for the program, has been working on reducing the local negative impact of jellyfish in the Azov Sea. Preparatory work for the program is currently being completed, and the experimental module for jellyfish localization is planned to be tested in the Azov Sea. The purpose of the experiment is to reduce the negative impact of jellyfish on the sea's ecosystem and make swimming in the sea more pleasant for tourists.
The Azov Sea, located in the south of Russia, is the location where the experimental module for jellyfish localization will be tested. The quality of sea water in Sochi, a popular tourist destination on the Azov Sea coast, has been assessed by Rospotrebnadzor and is currently considered safe. A previous report mentioned the safety of sea water in Sochi, according to Rospotrebnadzor, which is responsible for assessing the safety of sea water in Sochi.
It is worth noting that the proliferation of jellyfish affects not only fish stocks but also tourism, making swimming in such water unpleasant. The planned program to clean the Azov Sea of jellyfish is planned to last two years. If such a program exists, it has not yet been publicly announced or covered by accessible news and research outlets.
[1] Russia’s increased fish catches and aquaculture research in the Azov-Black Sea region, including crustacean farming, but no jellyfish removal program is mentioned.
[2] Tourism and geopolitical developments in the Azov Sea region, especially related to Russian occupation of Ukrainian coastal resorts, with some anecdotal mention of jellyfish presence but no cleanup program.
[3] Russian government priorities shifting toward military shipbuilding rather than civilian fleet improvements, with no environmental programs related to the Azov Sea or jellyfish removal.
[4] General geographic and ecological information about the Black Sea, not the Azov Sea, with no reference to jellyfish removal programs.
- Despite Russia's advancements in fish catches and aquaculture research in the Azov-Black Sea region, including crustacean farming, there seems to be no publicly acknowledged program for the removal of jellyfish.
- The discourse on tourism and geopolitical developments in the Azov Sea region mostly revolves around Russian occupation of Ukrainian coastal resorts, with limited discussion on the presence of jellyfish and no reported cleanup program.
- The Russian government's priorities appear to be shifting towards military shipbuilding rather than focusing on civilian fleet improvements, civilian infrastructure, or environmental programs related to the Azov Sea or jellyfish removal.
- Scientific discussions and research on climate-change, environmental-science, policy-and-legislation, and politics often focus on general news topics, not specific to the Azov Sea, without mention of jellyfish removal programs.
