An invasive species of gigantic Japanese seaweed appeared set to engulf the seaside resorts around the Isle of Wight 50 years ago.
The weed – sargassum muticum – is capable of growing an inch a day up to a length of 30ft. It was feared that the aquatic pest would form huge mats that could destroy marine life, damage oyster beds and foul fishing lines and boat propellers.
Sargassum muticum is a relative of the legendary peril of the Sargasso Sea. It was thought to have come to the south coast on the bottom of a boat from the Pacific region. Another theory was that it arrived in a consignment of Japanese oysters grown in France.
Marine botanist Dr Bill Farnham from Portsmouth Polytechnic said:
“It’s still a mystery how it got here. It is a real menace. The only way we can get rid of it is to pull it up by hand. And that’s a long job.
“Portsmouth is the worst hit place so far. It’s very bad, worse than at Bembridge Isle of Wight where it was found last month.
“We think its fertile period, when spores are released, is spring and summer. But it could be all the year round.”
The invasive Japanese seaweed was discovered clinging to the Royal Yacht Britannia when Mr Farnham went down with naval divers to investigate.
Reported in Evening Post 10th August 1973
In all seriousness, what is the latest status / situation with Japanese seaweed? Did they ever get it under control?
Now we have invasive factory fishing trawlers so still a huge threat to sea life
This weed has been in Bembridge for years, just take a wal
Likely Cpt Stan will drape a piece artistically around a mashed up prawns internals and sell it as a Sushi to some dim but wealthy visitor, thus reducing the invader and making good use from such a pest, and I am not referring to the seaweed.