This article is from page 6 of the 2012-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
ANGLERS, beach users and ferry operators in the North Clare area are on high alert following satellite imagery which shows a large swell of sea algae approaching the Clare coast. The large bloom contains a phytoplankton known as Karenia which makes the water appear a reddish colour and is harmful to shell fish and bottom feeding fish.
The bloom is harmless to humans but can cause major fish deaths by cutting off sunlight to shellfish and other species which live at the bottom of the water.
The bloom can also disrupt boats and sea anglers by tangling up turbines and fishing lines.
Unlike river or lake algae bloom, which are often the result of man made pollution or run off from farm land, blooms of sea algae are naturally accruing.
However, it is rare that a large bloom like this would come ashore on the Irish west Coast at this time of year.
The presence of this bloom is being blamed on the redirection of the Gulf Stream south of its normal position this year – a change which is also partially to blame of the unseasonable wet and cold summer that we have experienced to date.
The bloom last week forced the closure of two beaches in Donegal and North Clare locals are keeping a keen eye on the sea waters, especially in Galway Bay.
“The bloom is just another element of the unusual summer that we have had this year as a result of the Gulf Stream positioning itself more southerly than we would expect,” said James Linnane of the Lisdoonvarna/ Fanore Sea Angling Club.
“This has resulted in lower sea temperatures but also in increased onshore winds. These wind can create bigger than normal swells so the club has to be very very careful to study the weather before we host a sea angling event this year.”