Harmful algal bloom reason for foam in Kollam sea, say NIO researchers

Kollam: The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) found that the foam present at Mundakkal Kollam was due to harmful algal bloom. This foam could affect the availability of fish in the sea, a report stated.

Around two feet of foam spread across 300 meters of shoreline was seen along the coast of Mundakkal region on June 10.

The study report says, the decay of the algal bloom combined with heavy wind, high waves had shifted the foam towards the coastal belt of Mundakkal, Kollam. The bloom of the species was considered non-toxic and hence did not pose any health risk.

Earlier, a research team from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies had said that foam was non-toxic, and that the phenomenon was associated with the strong wind and wave action on higher concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM).