phaeocystis

Phaeocystis, full name Phaeocystis Pouchetti, is a non-toxic marine plankton algae that once appeared in small amounts along on our beaches in early July, in response to the warmer sea and higher lighting level. At the end of it’s life it decays to give a brown flecked foam causing people to think it is sewage along the shoreline. It isn’t, but it is brought to into being by the high concentration of nutrients coming from sea going sewage outfalls, added to by agricultural leach off. It gives off the characteristic odour of di-methyl suphide on decay, which in the presence of oxygen and sunlight turns to sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide. That from the sea is responsible for 30% of the acid rain that falls in northern Europe. It has been forming earlier each year, and now often forms walls over 2 metres high along the beach edge as early as April. Children love to play in it. But beware — it can produce an irritating rash in allergic youngsters. Please see www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/03095327/8 for further detailed information.