Blanket weed needs to be removed with care

Photosynthesis is a process by which plants use sunlight to synthesise nutrients from carbon dioxide and water.

Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a by-product.

This process helps reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere – a green house gas with currently enhanced levels due to the actions of man.

As part of this process aquatic plants also make use of waterborne nutrients, many of which are in artificially enhanced levels in our waterways, again due to the actions of man. These plants include green single celled algae, green filamentous algae and the more ‘advanced’ rooted plants.

The green single celled algae in particular underpin the whole food chain leading up through aquatic invertebrates to fish, to amphibians, to birds and eventually to mammals such as otters.

What on earth are we doing trying to suppress these vital processes by pouring a dye into our watercourses?

This dye will not just suppress the growth of the blanket weed, it will also suppress the higher plants on which so much wildlife depends, not to mention their aesthetic appeal.

Removal of blanket weed by hand may be laborious but it would be a less damaging option. Would those responsible be happy to have that ‘non toxic’ dyed water coming out of their taps to drink and bath in?

MARTIN MOORE Loddon Fisheries and Conservation

Consultative