Florida Museum Devotes Nearly 10,000 Square Feet to Jellyfish

Pompano Beach, Florida, now has a museum devoted to a single group of animals: jellyfish. The Jellyfish Museum opened this spring and presents up to 25 species, including varieties from both warm and cold waters. The attraction occupies nearly 10,000 square feet, with more than 6,000 square feet dedicated to exhibitions, according to a statement from Pompano Beach. The city describes it as the only museum of its kind in the United States. Visitors can also see immersive 3D projections and a mini laboratory, the museum says. The museum was founded by Alex and Yana Yanovsky, who previously developed aquariums and opened a jellyfish museum in Kyiv, Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war forced the couple to leave the country. After moving to Florida, they sought to continue sharing their interest in the animals, according to Jessica Eisenbarth, a manager at the museum, as reported by the Associated Press. The Yanovskys’ idea grew from observing visitors in Ukraine. Yana Yanovsky said aquarium guests appeared especially engaged by jellyfish tanks, inspiring the couple to create an education-focused experience in South Florida, a region closely connected to the ocean. Jellyfish have existed for roughly 700 million years, predating the dinosaurs. They are generally made up of about 95 percent water and 5 percent collagen. Although they have no brain, they possess a simple nerve net that allows them to react to their surroundings. The animals also include some unusual biological examples. Mature Turritopsis dohrnii can return to an earlier polyp stage, earning it the nickname “immortal jellyfish.” The lion’s mane jellyfish is the largest known jellyfish species; one specimen measured approximately 120 feet from its bell to the end of its tentacles. The museum’s peaceful displays offer a markedly different encounter from the jellyfish reported along some Mid-Atlantic beaches. More than 2,000 sting reports were recorded in early August, while marine biologist Ellen Prager cited warmer ocean temperatures, nutrient pollution and other environmental factors as possible contributors to increased jellyfish populations. The Pompano Beach museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., where visitors can observe the animals without entering the water.