An innovative smart phone application, which gives users up-to-date information on facilities found on most bathing areas in the Maltese Islands, weather forecast for the same beaches and on the risk of jellyfish occurrence on the same beaches, has been recently launched jointly by the IOI-MOC at the University of Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). Sting treatment information for most of the jellyfish species occurring in Maltese waters is also provided by the same application.
The development of the smart phone application was jointly coordinated by staff at the IOI-MOC of the University of Malta, including Dr. Alan Deidun, and by Alert Communications. Dr. Deidun explained that this application, carbon copies of which exist in a number of other Mediterranean countries already, including Spain, would hopefully assist bathers, both local and foreign, in making informed decisions this summer about choice of bathing spot and treatment of jellyfish stings.
The fully functional MED-JELLY application is available for download both on the Android platform and on the iPhone platform (download it now for Android and for iPhone).
A waterproof booklet with detailed sting treatment information for different jellyfish species will be distributed on all local beaches in the coming summer months and a jellyfish photography competition is also being launched. Within such a competition, participants can submit photos of individual jellyfish species or of blooms both through their smart phone (after downloading the MED-JELLY application) or through an underwater camera. Attractive prizes will be awarded to the best two submissions under each category and the best twelve photos will grace a 2015 calendar being printed later in the year. Visit the website for more details on submission rules, deadlines, etc.
Your smart phone to the rescue & a jellyfish photography competition!