The Panther Prints ¢

News

Killer Seaweed Invades PEI |

With files — Rebecca MacEachern, The Xaverian, St. FX

A new type of seaweed has been discovered in the Maritimes. Codium Fragile is commonly known as Green Fleece, and it was first found in Nova Scotia by St. F.X. professor David Garbary. Garbary found the seaweed while walking along a beach last August. “It was pretty neat to be just wandering along the beach and find it,” said Garbary, who specializes in the study of seaweed. It is not just specialized scientists who are taking note of this find; Garbary warns that the spread of Green Fleece “could lead to a major ecological disaster.”

The seaweed poses a hazard to the Maritime shell- fish industry and the PEI Irish Moss Industry. The Green Fleece can reproduce by split- ting and through spores, mak-

ing it an extremely fast grow- ing algae. This means that it will compete with, and possi- bly displace, slower growing algae suchas Irish Moss. Irish Moss isa localalgae harvested on PEI, and it is used as a thickener for some dairy prod- ucts such as ice cream.

Then the shellfish are washed away with the tide,” says Pro- fessor Garbary. While the seaweed harms individual shellfish, it is unlikely to de- stroy entire beds. Garbary compared the devastation of Green Fleece with that caused by Purple Loosestrife: “Actu-

"I¢'s something to be concerned about. I think it's good that it has

been found at an early stage."

Green Fleece often spreads its spores through oys- ters and other shellfish. “The spores of the seaweed attach themselves to scallops and oysters and grow quickly, cre- ating little air bubbles which

- cause the shellfish to float.

OPENING SOON 4

PEAT

Quality Used Family Clothing

| " Loads" of Imported Stock

—

| 95 Trans-Canada Highway

| (Leisure World building)

i West Royalty P.E.I.

Call 892-0020

Z x t3 | ies SC yaLtt ,

4 a

Monday - Thursday 9:00 to 6:00 _ Friday 9:00 to 8:30 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00

J

ally, you could describe codium as the Purple Loosestrife of the sea.” Green Fleece originated in Europe and is thought to have travelled to Nova Scotia in the 1950's on fishing boats. The seaweed has now made it’s way to PEI, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). “I have seeen it personally,” said Jim Jenkins of the DFO. He found the seaweed on a routine mid- November oyster inspection in Upper Malpeque Bay. “We were searching for virus ang parasites, not Codium Frag- ile,” he noted. Jenkins found entire plants of the seaweed, which he decribes as being 8- 10 inches in length, and ap-

pearing like afingery, spongey

material. He speculated that the Green Fleece was meen

vee Blossoms a Restaurant

32 University Avenue

After hours, join the crowd We're open until 3:00am Fridays & Saturdays Take Out Available!

Call 566-2567

to PEI by Nova Scotia oysters. The DFO is unsure how long the Green Fleece has been in Malpeque Bay.

Moira Galway, associ- ate professor of Biology at St. F.X. says the find should be taken seriously. “It’s some- thing to be concerned about. I think it’s good that it has been found at an early stage. It’s better that we know it’s here now.”

While Jenkins agrees that the new seaweed is a cause for concern, he explained that there are several harmful varities of seaweed which are considered harmful “Sea Let- tuce is more of a pest,” said Jenkins. Sea Lettuce is an algae which is indiginous to PEI. Professor Christian LaCroix, of the UPEI biology department explained that any type of fast growth algae, like Sea Lettuce or Green Fleece, can be harmful to Irish Moss. LaCroix stated that any type of faster growing algae can compete with, and overcome, slow growing algae such as Irish Moss.

There is no known way to kill the seaweed, but its spread can be controlled by quarantining the infected area. At present the DFO is not tak- ing action against the seaweed other than notifying National and Regional offices to be on the lookout. A possible future plan could be to drag the Malpeque Bay and physically remove any Green Fleece found. It has not yet been found oe dace else on PEI.

tO) hii pay ali

aes oe

"Panther

a bie Ave. Charlottetown,

PEI CIA 4P3. (902)566-0629 Fax: 566-0979 E-mail: newspaper @upei.ca

The Panther Prints is the official newspaper of the students of UPEI.

It is published 10 times per semester. 2500 copies are distributed on and off campus on Tues- days. Deadlines for ad- vertisements and submis-

sions are Thursdays at Spm, without exception.

Jennifer Caseley Production Editor

Mike F. Beagan News Editor

Cindy Venema Production Ass't

Karen Rawlines Advertising

Finley Martin Photographer

Melissa Buote

tter Friendly Elves

Phank you to all of our contributors