terrible invasive asian moss It continues to advance through the Mediterranean, which comes from the Far East and reaches the shores of the Peninsula. After being detected in Ceuta, Granada and Almería, now its growth has been confirmed off the coast of Alicante, from where it can continue to jump towards new points of the shore. Worry is maximum because it is one of a kind. threat of posidonia (important CO2 capture source and focal point of biodiversity), as well as traditional fisheries and tourism.
Researchers from the University of Alicante (UA) detected the presence of Asian algae. Rugulopteryx okamurae on the coast of Alicante, that is It is not excluded that it may spread to the rest of the Mediterranean.
Marine biodiversity experts warn that these algae pose “a danger that could die.” jeopardizes environmental, economic and social sustainability affected areas Destroy everything in your pathIn fact, its cytotoxic capacity means it can kill other species in less than 24 hours.
“Face and hands are itchy”
Also, people working in the manipulation of algal arribazones have suffered. itchy face and hands “chemical arsenal“It presents more strongly than that of the autochthonous species.
This Rugulopteryx okamurae Came to Europe from Asia in 2002 with ballast water from ships. Its presence in the Strait of Gibraltar became known in 2016. Included in the Invasive Alien Species Catalogue (EEI). Its main region is around Japan and Korea, among several other countries in the region.
Came to Spain in 2015
“In Spain it first appeared in arribazones off the coast of Ceuta at the end of 2015. and spread throughout the Alboran Sea, where it showed a large colonization capacity, negatively impacting local marine species as well as traditional fisheries and tourism,” according to UA researchers.
Actually, It creates large deposits on beaches that are difficult to manage and extract by the affected municipalities.
“It has recently been detected in the Canary Islands as well as Almería and Granada, and a rapid expansion is expected in the rest of the Mediterranean. Because of these features, it has been declared an invasive exotic species and a strategy has been established for its monitoring and control at the national level.
Discovery on the Alicante coast
Large quantities of algae were observed in samples collected by students and teachers of UA’s Marine Science Degree in Marine Zoology during practices at the Alicante coast at the beginning of last March.
As a result of the finding, the UA researchers identified the algae through morphological and molecular characterization. In addition, they conducted a rapid survey to assess the distribution and abundance of these algae in the underwater area, as well as in accumulations or arribazos on beaches.
Currently, according to experts, The alga is abundant in the center of the Alicante bay and grows mainly on the dead Posidonia oceanica bush. in which region it is abundant.
Researchers found large numbers of Rugulopteryx okamurae, accumulating on the seafloor at some nearby beaches, such as San Gabriel and Urbanova, as well as other more distant tourist beaches that are dispersed by waves, such as the coves at Arenales and Cabo de Santa Pola. and ocean currents.
The danger posed by these algae is enormous, because Its effects are not only biological and ecological.because its existence also cause strong socioeconomic effectsparticularly in the professional fishing sector, with emphasis on the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
The arrival of these algae in large quantities on the beaches, in turn, impact on tourism activitiesand it is becoming more and more costly to withdraw by the respective governments. For this reason, In 2019, five municipalities in the states of Málaga, Cádiz and Ceuta had to clear up to 10,000 tons of moss.which meant a cost of 400,000 euros.
Government strategy for the control and possible eradication of Asian algae:
https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/publicaciones/estrategia_rokamurae_cs_28072022_tcm30-543560.pdf
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]