Jellyfish Force Shutdown of French Nuclear Plant

On 10th August 2025, a massive swarm of jellyfish clogged the cooling system at the Gravelines Nuclear Power Station in Northern France.

  • Similar incidents have occurred worldwide since the 1990s, with recent frequency increasing — e.g. Israel, Japan, Scotland (2011), Sweden (2013).

How Jellyfish Disrupt Nuclear Plants

  • Nuclear plants depend on continuous water flow for cooling.
  • Intake pipes with grated barriers filter solids and aquatic life.
  • When millions of jellyfish are pulled in during blooms, they clog screens within minutes, blocking water flow.
  • This risks overheating of turbines, condensers, and boilers, forcing reactors offline.
  • Dead jellyfish can liquefy into a gel, slipping through screens and ....
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