Green-gray “sea snot” is spreading further and further from Italy and is now spoiling the swimming pleasure of many Austrians.
It feels slippery on the skin and covers large parts of the water surface: Algae slime is currently preventing many holidaymakers, including many Austrians, from going into the water on the Adriatic Sea. “Everyone who ventures into the sea tries to avoid the slime or wade through it,” says a holidaymaker from Vienna in an interview with the “Krone” about the marred bathing fun in Bibione.
It also looks bad and smells bad too
In recent weeks, the waves have washed the microalgae, which look and smell bad, onto many beaches in the northern Italian regions of Friuli, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. The areas of Molise, Puglia and Abruzzo are now also affected. The smelly algae, popularly known in Italy as “Musillacini”, are also developing on some beaches near Trieste.
Although they do not pose a health hazard and occur every year, one thing is certain: holidaymakers and locals have never experienced them in such large numbers – favoured by rising temperatures and an increased concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus derivatives in the water. In addition, the heavy rainfall of the past few weeks has caused a lot of fresh water to accumulate in the sea. All together, it acts as an unwanted fertiliser.
Immediate action required
“We cannot trust that the weather conditions will change and that a storm will wash away the slime,” says Attilio Rinaldi of the Marine Research Center in Cesenatico, who highlights the problem. Given the critical situation, those affected are demanding immediate action. The fishermen are doing it first and foremost! “Everyone is complaining about damage to the nets and difficulties in fishing,” explains Paolo Tiozzo of the Italian Cooperative for Agriculture and Fisheries. Especially in small boats, the slime clogs the propellers and makes cleaning the mechanical parts almost impossible.
Tourism is also suffering as the ugly, sticky ‘sea slime’ – as holidaymakers now call it – deters swimmers. Beaches remain empty. For many coastal towns that depend on summer tourism, this means significant financial losses. We can only hope that the algae nightmare will soon come to an end.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
