Blue-green algae rises in coastal, sea areas

Blue-green algae observations increased in coastal and open sea areas, but the situation in inland waters is typical of the season, said Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in a press release on Thursday.

Blue-green algae have been observed especially on the coasts of Southwest Finland, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso.

Abundant blue-green algae occur in the open sea area throughout the Gulf of Finland.

SYKE observes the cyanobacteria occurrence as part of the monitoring of the state of the environment in Finland

The national cyanobacterial monitoring is carried out as part of the monitoring of the state of the environment in cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, municipal environmental and health authorities, and the SYKE. Finnish Rotary Clubs are also actively involved in nationwide cyanobacterial monitoring.

The cyanobacterial monitoring is based on the monitoring of cyanobacterial deposits in surface water.

The intention is to provide an overview of the cyanobacterial situation in different water bodies.

The monitoring includes about 400 permanent observation sites across the country on inland and coastal waters and in the archipelago.

Information on the cyanobacterial situation in the open sea areas is mainly obtained from satellite images, but also from the Finnish Border Guard, the marine research vessel Aranda, the optical device located at the Utö Atmospheric and Marine Research Station, as well as cruise and merchant ships (MS Finnmaid and MS Silja Serenade). The drift forecasts for cyanobacterial rafts in open sea areas are prepared in cooperation with the Finnish Meteorological Institute's Maritime Services.

SYKE reports on the national cyanobacterial situation on a weekly basis every Thursday from June 20 to August 8 August 2024. The weekly algal reporting was launched in 1998.