According to the UK’s Environment Agency, a large area of seaweed is choking England’s South Coast. The seaweed is cause for concern as it is threatening wildlife and creating difficulties for boats in the area.
The seaweed has grown rapidly thanks to the weather over the past two months – June was hot with July being quite rainy, and this has allowed the algae to grow up to 8 inches thick in places.
France has also seen a large number of algae blooms on their coast line and this has potentially caused health issues as rotting seaweed above the high tide mark can release potentially deadly toxic gases.
The Environment Agency have been quick to point out that England’s algae problem will not cause health problems for humans. Tides twice a day will mean that the algae won’t have enough time to dry out and bake and therefore will be aunable to release toxic gas. However if anyone in the area does start to smell a rotting egg odour as this would indicate that the algae has started to release poisonous gas.
Part of the reason for the prevalence of the weeds is farming
run-off and sewage works. The algae thrives on nutrients released from sewage works and the nitrate-rich fetilisers which run into waterways during periods of heavy rainfall.
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