China Fights Algae

From New York Times:

BEIJING -- With less than six weeks before it plays host to the Olympic sailing regatta, the city of Qingdao, China, has mobilized thousands of people and an armada of small boats to clean up an algal bloom choking the coastline and threatening to impede the competition.

Local officials have begun an intense effort to clean up the algae by mid-July. News reports estimate as many as 20,000 people have either volunteered or been ordered to participate in the operation, while 1,000 boats are scooping algae out of the Yellow Sea. The country’s official news agency, Xinhua, reported that algae currently cover a third of the coastal waters designated for the Olympic competition.

Water quality has been a concern for the Olympic sailing events. Many coastal Chinese cities dump untreated sewage into the sea, and rivers and tributaries emptying into coastal waters are often contaminated with high levels of nitrates from agricultural and industrial runoff. These nitrates contribute to the red tides of algae that often bloom along sections of China’s coastline.

More than 5,000 square miles of ocean surface is affected by algae blooms. A propaganda official said the entire province is involved with clearing the algae. Another official said to expect smooth sailing.

Tip: Charley Nestor