BAHRAINI seafood might be more famous for hamour, but it's the country's jellyfish that are washing up on menus across Asia. Most commonly viewed as a nuisance at home, Bahraini jellyfish are proving to be a popular delicacy in the Far East. Tonnes of salted jellyfish tentacles are being flown out of Bahrain every year and wolfed down in countries like Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand.
The operation is the brainchild of Hassan Janusani, who established his Jaradah Sea Production Factory in 2003 as part of his one-man war on jellyfish.
The one-time fisherman took it upon himself to round up the creatures to reduce the number of his colleagues getting stung, as well as prevent them scaring off fish.
"I wanted to do something to help us fishermen be able to lay nets without jellyfish stinging the fishermen," he told the GDN.
"Fish would also escape the nets if they sensed the jellyfish, which produce a poisoned chemical that can kill fish.
"I basically wanted to reduce their number and I found out that a lot of Asian countries eat jellyfish.
"This factory is reducing the jellyfish here while benefiting people in other countries."
The Jaradah Sea Production Factory is located on the northern shores of Bahrain, in Janusan and was established at a cost of around BD300,000.
The company pays local fishermen for any jellyfish they catch and then dries them for export.
It pays out around BD3 for every 40kg to 50kg of jellyfish it receives.
However, Mr Janusani first had to undergo a crash course in drying jellyfish before he could start work and met with experts in Japan, China and Malaysia.
"On the trip we learnt that jellyfish is a popular meal there, but the experts in Japan and China didn't have a way to dry our jellyfish," he said.
"So we headed to Malaysia where they came up with a solution."
In fact, he has combined methods used in all three countries and pioneered their application in Bahrain.
"I use different concentrations of salt in the drying process, so it helps the jellyfish cells hold in water when they are dried," he explained.
"When it reaches the destination country it is put into sweet water to regain its size and then you can cook it in a variety of ways - such as boiling, steaming, frying and even grilling."
Mr Janusani's personal favourite is a healthy choice - boiled jellyfish served up in a salad.
"Each country has certain requirements for jellyfish imports," he added.
"Japan, for instance, wants jellyfish to measure only eight per cent of its original size - so if it weighs 100kg before drying, it should weigh 8kg afterwards.
"China wants it to be 15pc. The lower the dried weight is, the more it costs because we need to use more salt and a longer time to reduce the weight."
The Jaradah Sea Production Factory, which also produces frozen crab and seafood, is the first of its kind in the GCC, but Mr Janusani predicts it is only the beginning.
He revealed he was on the verge of launching a similar venture to catch and export other Gulf seafood - such as crab, octopus, squid, small sharks, catfish and queen fish.
"Now the factory is basically working in the jellyfish season, which runs from April to September," said Mr Janusani.
"We want to do more."
He said Bahraini jellyfish had proved a massive hit with Asian consumers, particularly in China, because of the salty waters in the Gulf.
"The Bahraini jellyfish is now very popular in the Asian market and is becoming a favourite," he said.
"Fish living in salty seas taste different to those in less salty seas - Bahrain has one of the saltiest seas in the region."
However, just like fishermen who have complained their catch was being massively reduced by land reclamation, Mr Janusani said his business had also been affected.
He has so far this year exported 11 containers of jellyfish, each carrying 18 to 24 tonnes.
That is down from the 60 containers he was able to export last year and he puts it down to jellyfish relocating - adding that he exports as much as he can catch.
However, he estimates the amount of jellyfish he catches has dropped by as much as 90pc.
"The jellyfish reproduce fast," he said.
"Their lifespan is three months, but the main problem is the reclamation that has caused jellyfish to swim further out to sea.
"Sand kicked up in the water from reclamation can kill jellyfish so they escape into deeper water - meaning we have to go miles and miles to find them."
Since it was launched Mr Janusani's jellyfish factory has helped plough money back into the Bahrain economy - creating 80 jobs for Bahrainis and paying fisherman for any jellyfish they are also able to catch.
"This factory also serves the country by helping stop jellyfish from blocking water pipes used by oil companies to cool their machines," he added.
The Jaradah Sea Production Factory was launched with the full backing of Bahrain's Fisheries Directorate and investors are being encouraged to back the project and its expansion.
By last year, the company had processed more than 1.5 million kilos of seafood and has plans to process frozen crab and other fish from September - taking its total production capacity to 15,000 tonnes of frozen fish per day.
The head of the directorate's fisheries assessment department, Abdul Karim Radhi, praised the initiative for helping increase exports and supporting local fishermen.
"The jellyfish is being caught in peak season for three months, so as not to affect the food circle because some fish feed on them," he said.
He added that in 2005 the factory exported 358 tonnes of dried jellyfish, in 2006 only 42 tonnes and 1,440 tonnes were exported.
"This industry is new to Bahrain and is flourishing," he added.
"If it continues like this it will help the economy in a lot of ways."
FACTBOX
r A jellyfish has no head, brain, heart, eyes nor ears. It has no bones either.
r To capture prey for food, jellyfish have a net of tentacles that contain poisonous, stinging cells. When the tentacles brush against their prey, thousands of tiny stinging cells explode launching barbed stingers and poison into the victim.
r If stung wash with vinegar or rubbing alcohol, sprinkle on meat tenderiser or put a baking soda and water paste on it. Don't rinse with water, which could release more poison.
r Some jellyfish washed up on sand still sting if their tentacles are wet. Tentacles torn off can also sting.
r Jellyfish range in size from about one inch to 200 feet long.
r Jellyfish are not fish at all. They are invertebrates, relatives of corals and sea anemones.
r They have been drifting through the world's oceans for more than 650 million years.
r The sting of some jellyfish can be deadly. Others are harmless to humans.
r Scientists estimate there may be 2,000 species of jellyfish, but only about 70 seriously harm or occasionally kill people.
Source: National Geographic
