Invasive Algae Smothering Costa Rica's Culebra Bay Reef - Thrives On Golf Course Runoff - Reuters

[hatrack]

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - A tropical algae thriving on fertilizers from hotel golf courses and badly treated sewage is killing one of Costa Rica's most important coastal reefs, scientists say. The green, feather-like algae is spreading along the reefs of Culebra Bay in Costa Rica's northwestern Gulf of Papagayo, a popular scuba diving spot and home to a rare species of coral. The algae blocks the sunlight and suffocates the reefs.

A tourism and construction boom along the palm tree-lined beaches is creating nitrogen- and phosphate-rich waste that feeds the algae, known as Caulerpa sertularioides, and Costa Rica is only just becoming aware of the problem. "It's an ecological disaster," said Cindy Fernandez, a marine biologist with the nonprofit MarViva Association, who alerted the Costa Rican government to the threat, which is now being taken on by the state-run University of Costa Rica. Scientists say about 80 percent of the reef area, which stretches for about a mile and a half (2.4 km) along the coast line, is covered in the algae.

The aggressive algae spreads when even the smallest sliver comes loose, from the likes of strong currents or dive boats dropping anchor, to root itself in another part of the reef.

Even the sweep of a diver's hand or the kick of a diver's fin can send a fragment swirling away to start another patch. That means experts cannot pull it up like weeds. "If you pull it up it will reproduce faster," said Jenny Asch, coordinator of the government's marine conservation program, who is leading efforts to find a way to eradicate the algae.

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http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/44010/story.htm

[kestrel91316]

1. Pay close attention here:

"......thriving on fertilizers from hotel golf courses and badly treated sewage........."

They would do well to restore their wetlands and riparian areas to filter the fertilizer-laden runoff. There is NO REASON for this to be happening - it's totally avoidable if they would exercise common sense and stop working overtime trying to fill the ocean up with nitrogen and phosphorus.

This is the same type of pollution that causes the Gulf dead zone off Louisiana.

We had some trouble with Caulerpa here in SoCal and got rid of it with emergency action that cost MILLIONS:
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4/html/water_qty/killer_algae_article.html