Blue green algae Spiggie Loch

[DARRON SMITH]

Well it says in the news blue green algae suspected in the Spiggie Loch.

 

Anyone know if that affects the trout?

 

And if you are brave enough to stand bags deep to catch one, can they be eaten?

[JohanofNess]

It's no toxic to the fish but you wouldn't want to get any on you it can do some funky stuff if you ingest it or it gets in the eyes.

[Ghostrider]

If they would open up the canal to the size she once was and get a bit more water exchange going through they'd be less o' yun s***e, its just a stagnant rotten hol as is.

 

I'll stick wi a piltock fa da ebb instead I tink.

[muckleossa]

Photos of what Blue green algae looks like (taken in Shetland) are at

 

http://muckleossa.blogspot.com/2010/06/algae-whit-algae.html

[khitajrah]

Thanks muckleossa. I'm currently studying microbes for my OU course and have, just 5 minutes ago, jotted down Spiggie Loch as an example of a cyanobacterial bloom next to the description of how such things happen. Would you mind if I shared your website with my fellow biology students?

[EM]

If they would open up the canal to the size she once was...

That would be an interesting project, remember the historical evidence which indicates that the loch was a navigable voe a few hundred years ago

[muckleossa]

Thanks muckleossa. I'm currently studying microbes for my OU course and have, just 5 minutes ago, jotted down Spiggie Loch as an example of a cyanobacterial bloom next to the description of how such things happen. Would you mind if I shared your website with my fellow biology students?

 

Feel free - those pics are not from Spiggie - they are from Loch of Cliff on Unst last year. I have also seen it on Loch of Huxter (Whalsay), Helliers Water (Unst), Sandy Loch (Lerwick), Loch of Clickimin (Lerwick) and Strand Loch (Gott) although its probably in most Shetland Lochs. It only becomes a problem when the temperature goes up and elevated nutrient levels in the loch cause the algae to rapidly multiply. When the algae dies its releases the toxins - its looks like someone has poured paint in the loch. If you havent already got it - here's a link to the Scottish Government Guidance Document "Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Inland Waters Assessment and Control of Risks to Public Health".

 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/05/14852/5363

[Ghostrider]

If they would open up the canal to the size she once was...

That would be an interesting project, remember the historical evidence which indicates that the loch was a navigable voe a few hundred years ago

 

I wasn't thinking of going quite that far, although to do so could be a lucrative sand-selling exercise for a few of the landowners involved if it was a phased project. More of what I had in mind was to return the existing canal to her original width and depth. The loch has evolved markedly in physical characteristics even in my memory, and continues to do so, and will IMHO be a different shape and size (and arguably much less desirable one) by the century's end the way things are going, Keeping the current reduced canal flow is the main driving force behind those changes IMHO.

[wullie m.]

Folks, does lowered water levels make this problem worse i.e, concentrates the soup? wullie m.