Invasive Problem Seaweed Appears In Scotland's Richest Oyster Farming Area

[hatrack]

AN ALIEN seaweed, which could pose a major threat to both the marine environment and the shellfish industry, has been found in a Scottish loch that is home to some of the country's most lucrative oyster and mussel beds.

Japweed, an invasive and fast-growing seaweed that is native to Japan and the western Pacific, was first spotted in Scottish waters two years ago when it was discovered growing in Loch Ryan on the Galloway coast. The unwelcome invader has since colonised parts of the Firth of Clyde, where it is reported to be spreading at an "alarming rate".

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) revealed yesterday that it had now been seen for the first time in Loch Fyne in Argyll, the longest sea loch in Scotland. Japweed, or Sargassum muticum, is a nuisance species that grows rapidly in the summer. When it becomes established on the lower shore, it can reduce the diversity of native seaweeds by outgrowing them and robbing them of sunlight.

The plant is known to cause economic damage by fouling boat hulls and clogging water-intakes and can also damage shellfish farming equipment.

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http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=1279332006