cork nature network

I received news about a seaweed survey going on near Adrigole. So I decided to get in my car and go and see what was going on. I am glad I did as the collective efforts of Coastwatch, Cork Environmental Forum and Cork Nature Network. Gave a very interesting visit. A group of volunteers went to a series of rock pools and devised the plan of cleaning one completely of the invasive seaweed known as “Sargassum muticum” and leaving the other pool alone. They did that last autumn, today six months later the cleared pool is again being invaded by the seaweed but is a lot clearer than the one they left alone.

As I understand it the invasive Japanese seaweed probably came to Ireland with Oyster seeds that have been farmed here. The problem with the seaweed is that it fills rock pools and blocks out the sun, effectively stopping everything else in its path.

A great initiative and very interesting for the children that were there too.