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September
1, 2005
New outbreak of toxic algae at Burnham-On-Sea's
Apex Wildlife Park
Fishing
has been temporarily banned at Apex Wildlife Park in Burnham-On-Sea
after a new outbreak of toxic blue-green algae at the site.
 Bosses
at Sedgemoor District Council put up warning signs around the
lakes on Thursday, September 1st to warn visitors about the danger
after the algae was spotted in several places around the lakes
at the popular park.
Jamie
Roberts, Sedgemoor District Council's Operational Manager, told
Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's a minor outbreak, but we have put
signs up around the lake warning people not to fish, swim or let
their dogs go in the water."
He
added: "Fortunately, this outbreak is not as bad as we've
seen here in the past. It was initially spotted over the Bank
Holiday weekend and has developed during the week, which is why
we've put the signs up. We're not trying to be alarmist; it's
just a common sense approach."
 The
move comes after the park was closed two years ago for several
weeks during a similar outbreak of the blue-green algae.
Mike
Dunning of the Environment Agency also confirmed: "The Environment
Agency has recorded algal blooms in the Apex Leisure Park lake
in previous years and there is no reason for it not to re-appear
when suitable conditions occur, usually during periods of hot
weather with little or no rain."
He
added: "The discoloration seen in the lake this summer is
almost certainly blue-green algae of a type previously identified
from samples. Under certain circumstances this algae can produce
toxins harmful to animals such as dogs."
 Blue-green
algae are aquatic organisms which have some properties that are
characteristic of bacteria and some that are characteristic of
plants.
Under
suitable conditions, populations can grow to extremely high densities
and, under certain circumstances, a scum of algae will form on
the surface which can accumulate down-wind and get blown.
The
significance of this is the fact that some blue-green algal species
are known to produce chemicals that can be toxic to wild and domestic
animals - and humans too.
RELATED
LINKS:
Apex Leisure
Park
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