Algal bloom turns seas off Shetland bright turquoise
A large algal bloom has turned part of the North Sea near Shetland a bight turquoise green.
The bloom as seen from space. Photo NASA
The bloom known as phytoplankton covers an area around 160 kilometres (100 miles) wide.
The image was picked from space up by the NASA Earth Space Agency and while phytoplankton can be harmful both wild and farmed fish, the effect of this particular event is likely to be negative.
Nasa said such blooms do commonly occur in the northern North Sea, but occasionally they can move down into Scottish coastal waters.
Despite their microscopic size, the plant-like organisms can become visible in satellite images when they explode in numbers, forming what is known as a phytoplankton “bloom.”
Many types of algal blooms can have devastating consequences for salmon farmers.
A recent attack in northern Norway a few weeks ago led to the death of millions of salmon, virtually wiping out he stock at a number of farms.
This attack was then followed by an Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) outbreak in the region a couple of weeks later.
Some phytoplankton produce toxins that can directly kill fish or accumulate in shellfish, making them toxic to humans and other animals who consume them.
The major threat to salmon is that algal blooms can deplete oxygen in the water, leading to suffocation of fish.
Other algal blooms have abrasive structures that can damage fish gills, making it difficult for them to breathe.
However, the Shetland News reports there is unlikely to be a negative impact if the bloom reaches the coast.
It says that while there are many species of harmful algae this particular type is not one of them.
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