The Hindu : Kerala News : Fresh case of algae bloom at Thumba

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 03, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Fresh case of algae bloom at Thumba

By K. S. Sudhi

KOCHI, OCT. 2. Algae bloom continues to hit the Kerala seas. After, Thangassery and Vizhinjam, a fresh instance of `Red tide' has been reported off the Thumba coast.

A fresh case of algae bloom was spotted by the oceanographers of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) who are on board the scientific research vessel, Sagar Sampada, of the Department of Ocean Development. The vessel is on a cruise along the Kerala coast.

The oceanographers have located the algae bloom at 25 nautical miles southwest of Thumba. The algae bloom is estimated to be of 2 to 3 nautical mile length and 1 to 2 nautical mile wide, scientists said.

Detailed study

On receiving information of algae bloom on Thursday morning, the scientists on board the vessel were asked to carry out extensive and intensive studies in the area, the scientist-in-charge of the NIO, K.K.C. Nair said.

The intensity of the bloom and its possible direction can be ascertained only after detailed study. The course of the bloom would also depend on the ocean currents, Mr. Nair said.

The scientists have been asked to observe whether the algae bloom is moving towards the coast, he said.

The algae bloom that occurred at Thangassery and Vizhinjam had sent alarm bells ringing in the State following the stench created by the putrefaction of the huge biomass of the algae and some incidents of fish death at Kollam. It had also forced evacuation of several people from the coastal belt and many had to be hospitalised.

The oceanographers of the NIO had earlier collected samples of water, mud and benthic organisms from Shanghumugham, Vizhinjam and Kollam for scientific analysis.

The oceanographers say that generally Red tide is caused by the blooming of algae belonging to the species Trichodesmium and Noctiluca. However, it can only be through scientific analysis that the species of the algae and its character — toxic or non-toxic — be ascertained.

The Sagar Sampada is on a coastal survey to study the physical, chemical and biological aspects of oceanic environment after the South-West Monsoon. The vessel left Kochi on September 27 on a 25-day cruise with 10 oceanographers on board. The scientists will look into various aspects of the algae bloom to ascertain whether it belongs to the toxic category and its impact on the coastal environment.

The scientists opined that algae blooms could occur in the seas soon after the monsoon. The monsoon showers will bring large quantities of nutrients from land and atmosphere to sea and blooms occur when favourable conditions arise in the ocean environment. The non-toxic algae blooms can also cause fish death as they absorb nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the water, scientists said.

Earlier, the scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute had identified the presence Gonyaulax diegnsis algae in Thiruvananthapuram, which is suspected to have caused shellfish poisoning in many countries.

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