Algal Blooms Disrupt Indonesian Marine Ecosystems

The phenomenon of algal blooms, where algae proliferate abnormally in coastal waters, is occurring frequently along Indonesia's coastlines, raising serious concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems. This phenomenon is primarily attributed to an increase in nutrient runoff from land, which can lead to water quality degradation, ecological damage, and economic losses for coastal communities. Ario Damar, a coastal aquatic ecology expert from IPB University, notes that algal blooms "always occur in waters close to residential areas." This proliferation is driven by increased organic matter and nutrients from domestic wastewater, agriculture, livestock farming, and aquaculture. These organic materials are transported to coastal areas via rivers, where their decomposition by bacteria transforms them into essential nutrients for algal growth, such as nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, and phosphates. This condition of excessive nutrient accumulation is known as eutrophication. However, increased nutrients are not the sole factor. Sunlight and physical conditions, such as calm currents that allow nutrients to remain for longer periods, also promote the rapid growth of algae. Areas like Jakarta Bay, Banten Bay, and Lampung Bay are cited as examples. When algal blooms occur, Indonesian waters change color from their typical blue to a dense green or reddish-brown. This visual transformation makes the sea surface appear covered by an unusual layer of color. This phenomenon has also drawn global research attention. A group of researchers from the University of South Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data and found that the occurrence of algal blooms is expanding in oceans worldwide. Their research highlights that algal blooms can cause unpleasant odors, inflict ecological damage, and negatively affect coastal economies. The spread of this issue in Indonesia underscores the urgent need for sustainable marine environment conservation. This article was originally published on Mongabay.