AMBER lab at UoH has been studying jellyfish swarming patterns since 2008. In 2011, we launched the Meduzot project - a website and app dedicated to collecting Citizen Science jellyfish observations along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our novel forecasting service, developed with Hidromod as part of the EU Iliad project, features a jellyfish dashboard with three main components: 1. a real-time map of expert-validated observations (publicly available), 2. A novel forecasting tool, based on the mapped geolocation of jellyfish from the Meduzot web app for initiating swarm trajectory. A Copernicus (Cmems) ocean current model enables us to produce a three-day forecast of swarm arrival to track swarm trajectory to a given beach, or power and desalination plant intake locations. 3. A historical swarming trend analysis, exploring impacts of metocean parameters such as sea temperatures and Chlorophyll a concentrations on jellyfish swarms and past intake clogging events. We present this data as a Jellyfish Swarm Index (JSI), an established standard allowing a long-term analysis of jellyfish blooms. Check out the forecast and prediction tool in This Link.

We also built and collaborated with a vibrant network of 13 jellyfish observation initiatives across Southern European Seas including initiatives from Portugal, Spain, France, Tunisia, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, and Israel. Together we seek to improve data standardization and increase our scientific understanding of swarming patterns in time and space.

Terms of Use

Welcome to the Meduzot Jellyfish Forecast Dashboard application (the “App”) owned by the University of Haifa, Israel, and Hidromod Modeling and IT specialists, Porto Salvo, Portugal (“UOH and Hidromod”, "we" and "our") and made available at the electronic online e-commerce marketplace platform (the "Website"), operated by Blue Lobster IT Limited, in connection with the implementation of the ILIAD Project.

Please carefully read the following terms and conditions (the "Terms" or "Terms of Use"). The Terms constitute a binding agreement between you, on the one part, and UOH and Hidromod, on the other part. By accessing the App or by using it in any other manner, you indicate your acceptance of these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, you may not access the App or use it in any manner.

About the App

UOH and Hidromod are parties to the ILIAD project, which is an international collaborative EU-funded project supported by the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Program, under Grant Agreement 101037643. The ILIAD project is being implemented by numerous consortium partners (beneficiaries), including universities, research centers, private companies and NGOs.

The App was developed by UOH and Hidromod, in the framework of the implementation of the ILIAD project. The App provides certain content and information about jellyfish swarm forecast. Its main features include: (a) a Real-time Jellyfish map, based on expert-validated citizen science reports on the Meduzot website (publically available), (b) a three-day jellyfish swarm forecast based on ocean currents from chosen point or polygon according to the map and (c) a multiannual analysis of JSI (Jellyfish Swarm Index) in conjunction with CMEMS-derived SST and Chl. a

It is important noting, however, that the App currently is in “pilot” stage of development and is made available strictly for internal use, for non-commercial evaluation purposes only and for a limited period of time, until revoked by UOH and Hidromod.

Registration

In order to use the App you will have to register and create a username and password that you will thereafter use to log-in to the App. We will explicitly indicate the fields for mandatory completion. If you do not enter the requisite data in these fields, you will not be able to register. You may not allow any third-party to use your user or credentials to access the App.

Acceptable Use of the App

The overall features and content available through the App is referred to as the “Service”.

When using the App, you must refrain from –

 Breaching theses Terms or any other applicable rules and instructions that we may provide;

 Interfering with, burdening or disrupting the functionality of the App;

 Breaching the security of the App or identifying any security vulnerabilities in it;

 Circumventing or manipulating the operation, or functionality of the App, or attempting to enable features or functionalities that are otherwise disabled, inaccessible or undocumented in the App;

 Using or launching any automated system, including without limitation robots, crawlers and similar applications to collect and compile content from the App;

 Displaying the App or any part thereof in an exposed or concealed frame, or linking to elements or portions of the App;

 Displaying content from the App in any way; including by any software, feature, gadget or communication protocol which may alter the content or its design;

 Downloading content from the App for any purpose, unless explicitly stated by UOH and Hidromod that such action is permitted;

 Accessing or using the App in order to develop or create a similar or competitive product or service.

 Impersonating any person or entity, or making any false statement pertaining to your identity, employment, agency or affiliation with any person or entity;

 Collecting, harvesting, obtaining or processing personal information of or about other users of the App;

 Engaging in any activity that constitutes a criminal offense or gives rise to civil liability; or

 Violating any applicable law.

WE MAY EMPLOY TECHNOLOGICAL MEASURES TO DETECT AND PREVENT FRAUDULENT OR ABUSIVE USE OF THE SERVICE. WE MAY SUSPEND OR TERMINATE YOUR USER ACCOUNT, OR BLOCK YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SERVICE, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE AND AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, IF WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE USING THE SERVICE FRAUDULENTLY OR ABUSIVELY.

Links

The App may contain links to content published on other websites, other than the Website, that are provided by third parties. We do not operate or monitor these websites and content. You may find these websites or the information and content posted there objectionable or not compatible with your requirements. By linking to a certain website, we do not endorse, or sponsor its content, or confirm its accuracy, credibility, authenticity, reliability, validity, integrity, or legality. We assume no responsibility or liability for such third-party websites or content, or their availability, or for any transactions or dealings made between you and such third-party websites.

Feedback and Intellectual Property

You agree to provide us active feedback on the App, including all pertinent information at your disposal concerning bugs, errors, and malfunctions in the App, performance of the App, its compatibility and interoperability (collectively “Feedback”). You hereby assign all rights to the Feedback to UOH and Hidromod, including the right to make commercial use thereof, without charge for any purpose UOH and Hidromod deem appropriate.

The intellectual property rights associated with the App and any content presented on the App, including copyrights, trademarks, trade names, patents, trade secrets, work methods and processes, and any other right, are the sole property of UOH and Hidromod or their third-party licensors. These rights apply, among others, to information, articles, images, content, graphic design, data and its processing, the App’s “look and feel”, computer code and any other detail concerning its operation.

You are not allowed to copy, duplicate, distribute, sell, make available, market and translate any information, including trademarks, images, pictures, texts and computer code from the App, without UOH and Hidromod's explicit prior and written consent.

Trademarks featured on the App (whether registered or not) are the sole property of UOH and Hidromod and/or its third-party licensors. You may not use them without our prior written consent.

Privacy

We respect your privacy. The App’s privacy policy is available here https://www.meduzot.co.il/about and is hereby incorporated by reference to and forms an integral part of these Terms.

Fee-Based Services

Use of the App is free of charge, except for certain feature or other services offered by UOH and Hidromod within the App that may be subject to fees at the rates and schemes determined and posted by the UOH and Hidromod on the relevant pages of the App ("Fee-Based Services"). Fee-Based Services can only be paid through PayPal or one of the other payment methods we establish from time to time. Without derogating from the above, we may, at any time and in our sole discretion, change a free-of-charge feature to a fee-based feature.

Fee-Based Services are chargeable in Euro.

Unless otherwise mandated by law, all your payment obligations are non-cancelable and all amounts paid in connection therewith are non-refundable by UOH and Hidromod. You are solely responsible for paying all applicable fees for the Fee Based Services that you purchased, whether or not you actually attend, enjoyed or otherwise benefited from them.

Failing to settle your payments for Fee-Based Services will prevent you from continuing to use the Service, without regard to any other remedies available to us under applicable law.

Commercial Content

We may incorporate advertisements or commercial information in the App or in any feature in the Service. We do not control the ads and cannot guarantee that they are reliable or accurate. Including them in the App does not mean that we recommend or endorse the goods or services that they offer. If you choose to purchase them, you do it on your own accord and we bear no responsibility for your decision or its consequences.

We may cooperate with advertisers or commercial vendors in order to offer you sponsored services. The sponsored services are always offered by their respective providers and under their exclusive responsibility. If you encounter any problem with the sponsored services, or if you have any complaint about them, you should address it to the relevant provider only. We are not responsible for such sponsored services.

Confidentiality

You agree to regard and retain as confidential and not divulge to any third party, or use for any unauthorized purposes, any Confidential Information, as defined below, that you acquire during your access and use of the Service without the written approval consent of UOH and Hidromod. Without limiting the scope of this duty, you agree not to design or develop any products or services, which incorporate any Confidential Information. All Confidential Information remains the property of UOH and Hidromod and no license or other rights in the Confidential Information is granted hereby.

“Confidential Information” shall include, but will not be limited to, information regarding research and development related to the Service, inventions, whether patentable or non-patentable, discoveries, innovations, designs, drawings, sketches, diagrams, formulas, computer files, computer programs, hardware, screen shots, software, manuals, selection processes, data, planning processes, trade secrets, business secrets, business plans, copyrights, proprietary information, processes, formulae, know-how, improvements and techniques and any other data related to the Service and its users. Confidential Information will include information in written, oral and/or any other form of communication.

Changes and Availability

From time to time, we may change the App's structure, layout, design or display, as well as the scope and availability of the information and content therein, without prior notice. Changes of this type by their very nature may result in glitches or cause inconvenience of some kind.

The operation of the App depends on various factors such as software, hardware and communication networks of UOH and Hidromod, their contractors and suppliers. By their nature, these factors are not fault free.

YOU AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY WITH RESPECT TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF SUCH CHANGES OR FROM ANY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT MAY RESULT THEREFROM.

The availability, quality and functionality of the Service depends on various factors, including software, hardware, communication networks, and the quality of broadband/cellular/WiFi network connectivity, which are provided by third parties, at their responsibility. These factors are not fault-free.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL OPERATE WITHOUT DISRUPTION, ERRORS OR INTERRUPTIONS, OR THAT IT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE, OR AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES OR IMMUNE FROM ERRORS, GLITCHES OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS.

Age Restriction and Eligibility

If you are under the age of 16, you may not use the App in any way. By using, accessing or registering with the Service, you declare that you are 16 years of age or older.

We reserve the right to terminate an account, if we find that you are younger than the minimum age specified above. We may request additional information to confirm your age at any time.

Changes to the Terms

From time to time, UOH and Hidromod may change the Terms. Changes will take effect 7 days after their initial posting on the App, unless UOH and Hidromod amend the Terms to comply with legal requirements. In such cases, the amendments will become effective immediately upon their initial posting, or as required.

Disclaimer of Warranty

MOST OF THE CONTENT PRESENTED THROUGH THE APP ORIGINATES FROM OTHER USERS OF THE APP, NOT US. WE DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT’S ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE AND MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR JUDGMENT ABOUT THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY, COMPLETENESS, CREDIBILITY, AUTHENTICITY, VALIDITY, INTEGRITY OR LEGALITY OF THE CONTENT AVAILABLE IN THE APP.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THIS SERVICE IS BEING PROVIDED FOR USE “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, AND “WITH ALL FAULTS”. UOH AND HIDROMOD, AS WEEL AS THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS/BENEFICIARIES OF THE ILIAD CONSORTIUM DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE APP AND THE SERVICE, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, QUALITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, TITLE, COMPATIBILITY, PERFORMANCE, SECURITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OF THE DATA, OR THE EXPECTED RESULTS OR OPERATIONAL BENEFITS FROM UTILIZING THE APP.

THE PILOT, BY ITS NATURE, MAY INVOLVE FREQUENT FAULTS, ERRORS, AND MALFUNCTIONS IN THE APP. YOU WILL HAVE NO PLEA, CLAIM OR DEMAND AGAINST UOH, HIDROMOD OR THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS/BENEFICIARIES OF THE ILIAD CONSORTIUM, OR THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, SUB-CONTRACTORS AND AGENTS (“STAFF”), IN RESPECT OF THE SERVICE'S FEATURES, CONTENT, LIMITATIONS OR COMPATIBILITY WITH YOUR NEEDS. YOUR USE OF THE APP AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN IT, IS AT YOUR FULL AND EXCLUSIVE RISK. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, COMPATIBILITY, SECURITY OR ACCURACY.

UOH AND HIDROMOD DO NOT WARRANT, AND HEREBY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SERVICE, INFORMATION AND CONTENT OBTAIND FROM THE APP OR LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES.

Limitation of Liability

UOH AND HIDROMOD, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, UOH AND HIDROMOD, THEIR EMPLOYEES, OR ANYONE ON THEIR BEHALF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU, FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, STATUTORY, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE, OR ANY SIMILAR DAMAGE OR LOSS, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFIT AND LOSS OF DATA, COSTS, EXPENSES AND PAYMENTS, EITHER IN TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), CONTRACT, OR IN ANY OTHER FORM OR THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING FROM, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE, ITS CONTENT, THE USE OF, OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, OR FROM ANY FAILURE, ERROR, OR BREAKDOWN IN THE FUNCTION OF THE SERVICE, OR FROM ANY FAULT, OR ERROR MADE BY OUR STAFF, OR FROM YOUR RELIANCE ON CONTENT AVAILABLE ON OR THROUGH THE APP, OR FROM ANY COMMUNICATION WITH UOH AND HIDROMOD, OR FROM RETENTION, DELETION, DISCLOSURE AND ANY OTHER USE OR LOSS OF CONTENT OR INFORMATION.

Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed solely by the laws of the State of Israel without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

The District Court at Tel Aviv, Israel shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over any claim in connection with the Website or in respect of any matter relating to these Terms.

Contact Us

You may contact us with any questions or comments, at: blackreefs@gmail.com

Last Updated: April 2023.

TBA