A huge red algal bloom along vast stretches of southeastern Australia's coastline Thursday resulted in beaches being closed and turned swathes of usually pristine ocean milky pink. The algae, noctiluca scintillans, forced the closure of Sydney's Bondi beach and a number of neighbouring inlets earlier this week, and government officials said it had now spread along the fringes of two states. "Samples taken at Bondi Beach on 27 November confirmed the presence of noctiluca scintillans, which appears as a pinkish to reddish discolouration in water," the New South Wales government's water office said. "It can also appear to be phosphorescent at night." Aerial footage shot over neighbouring Victoria state showed huge blooms of the oily pink scum off Bells Beach, a popular surfing spot, and Lorne, south of Melbourne. Some keen surfers were seen paddling undeterred through the muck, which has a fishy odour and can irritate the skin and eyes but is not dangerous to humans. Fisherman were advised not to eat anything caught in an affected area as a precaution. "There are no practical options for treating marine algal blooms," said Peter Codd from Victoria's department of sustainability and environment. "The best option is to let the bloom run its course and be broken up and dispersed by rough weather." Commonly known as "sea sparkle" due to its bluish glow at night, noctiluca scintillans blooms typically occur as a result of currents bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. It is also known as the "sea ghost" or "fire of the sea".
GMT 15:17 2018 Friday ,19 January
Microwave ovens are cooking the environmentGMT 05:41 2017 Monday ,08 May
Ras Al Khaiman tracks turtles gathering on its shoresGMT 12:15 2017 Friday ,24 March
Coral reefs in hot water: studyGMT 10:55 2017 Thursday ,09 March
Activists' fury over Norway hunt of pregnant whalesGMT 12:16 2017 Wednesday ,01 March
Paris auction of Moroccan 'Nessie' makes wavesGMT 15:32 2017 Tuesday ,28 February
Gumtree bans donkey sales in S.Africa over skin tradeGMT 12:17 2017 Thursday ,16 February
Oceans have lost 2 percent of oxygen, says studyGMT 07:34 2017 Tuesday ,14 February
Dubai Municipality to shift 75 per cent of waste from landfillsMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor