Jellyfish are largely misunderstood as a brainless, stinging nuisance that often fall victim as bycatch in net fisheries. Yet, these ancient, translucent creatures are an excellent source of pure marine collagen that can be used in food, medicine, and cosmetics. A group of marine biologists from the Catholic University of Valencia in Spain are proposing a way to make use of jellyfish bycatch rather than letting their blob-like carcasses go to waste. The study , published in Frontiers in Marine Science, suggests ways to extract collagen from jellyfish accidentally caught by fishing nets so that they can be used as a valuable, sustainable resource that could support small-scale fisheries. Zero waste The researchers behind the new study sat down with members of four fishing guilds in the Spanish Mediterranean to assess their willingness to make use of the jellyfish bycatch instead of throwing it away.…