Palau - A visit to Jellyfish Lake

Jellyfish Lake is one of many marine lakes found in the Rock Islands of Palau. A marine lake is a body of water surrounded by land, but underwater, are tiny fissures or channels in the rock, which allow seawater into the lake, but not outside creatures. A special kind of “stingless” jellyfish has evolved in this special environment. The CRRF invited us to come out with them to monitor the lake, the jellyfish, and the tourist impact. Tourists pay a $50 Koror Park Fee and another $50 fee just to visit Jellyfish Lake. Too bad the money from 100,000s of annual visitors, does not seem to go to improving Park facilities or Ranger vigilance at Jellyfish Lake. Introduced species of anemone are crowding out the endemic “jellyfish-eating” anemone and other endemic forms. CRRF staff thinks the visitors unknowingly brought the invaders on their shoes or booties. Hopefully this film will create more awareness to help preserve this site and its marvelous golden inhabitants and their ecosystem. All underwater footage was done by snorkeling and freediving, by Jackie Lee. Filmed in January 2015.