Don’t let the slime monster invade your beaches, it’s time to fight back!
As every gardener knows, nitrogen is essential for the growth of living things. But an overdose of nitrogen in coastal waters can prompt harmful algae blooms that degrade coastal water quality. Nitrogen pollution has wreaked havoc in coastal waters around the world, causing fish kills, outbreaks of shellfish poisoning, marine mammal deaths, and dead zones.
Slime (excessive growth of green and brown algae) results from over-fertilization of coastal environments. While ocean ecosystems need nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, when too much is present certain kinds of algae outgrow everything else and can smother other plants and animals, use up too much oxygen as they decompose, and release toxic substances.
Sources of nutrient pollution in our region include domestic and municipal sewage outlets, pulp and paper mills, agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition (nitrogen coming from smoke stacks and exhaust pipes), fish farms and fish processing plants.
While nutrient pollution (resulting in slime) is a major issue ocean wide, it is not the only threat facing our coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Fundy. Debris, oil, pesticides, and other sources of pollution all threaten our coastal ecosystems.
Slime Watch lets you help! By tuning your eyes on the shore as you enjoy the splendour of the Bay of Fundy, you can report sighting of slime (and other pollution) so that Fundy Baykeeper can utilize this information to track sources of pollution and get them cleaned up! Fundy Baykeeper also gives workshops on how to recognize pollution on the beach.
Other resources on Nutrient Pollution:
