In the laboratory, quicklime has appeared to be just that. A mortality rate of 98 per cent gives hope in the fight against harbor spasm. – It worked very well in the lab, so I have great faith that it will work in the small squares that we will be treating here, says Husa. Researcher Vivian Husa at the Institute of Marine Research. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen She has assembled a team of professionals from various agencies and divers at Garapskjærskaien on Risøy in Haugesund. The scheduled ferry to Utsira goes here, and the cruise port is close by. On the rock wall below the sea surface and on the seabed lies a carpet of harbor spew. The species has suffocated other life, and displaced other species. Harbor spit is unwanted in Norway, and the first occurrence was found in Stavanger in the spring of 2020. – We hope and have faith that the burnt lime can be a means of action against this alien species, which we do not want in Norway, says senior adviser Egil Postmyr in the Norwegian Environment Agency. Harbor spume can grow very quickly. Harbor spew colonies clone themselves and can elevenfold in size in 14 days, according to the Institute of Marine Research. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen Want to etch away harbor spew Burnt lime has previously been used against sea urchins in Finnmark, and the results gave Husa the inspiration to test the remedy against harbor spew. – The burnt lime generates heat, the pH value rises and will react with the animal so that the harbor vomit is etched away, explains Husa. This is how the researchers are trying to get rid of harbor spew in Haugesund harbour. Two diving teams have been brought in to help the Institute of Marine Research with liming the rock wall and the seabed. One team fastens bolts in the rock wall, so that the other team can fasten mats with lime next to the harbor purse. In addition, the lime is sprinkled on marked places on the seabed so that you can see the effect where the lime is used. – The lime particles remain for several days, perhaps weeks, on the seabed, but this does not work on the rock wall. That is why we have made these mats that will hang for 24 hours, says Husa. The divers lay out a layer of lime particles that will kill the harbor sparrow. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen Japanese imports that are spreading in the big cities of Havnespy are also called “Japanese sea purse”. The species naturally belongs to Japan, and has settled in Stavanger, Haugesund and Bergen. The sea buckthorn has probably been spread as a stowaway as a result of international ship traffic. – The conditions in Japan are not so different from here. Alien species have no natural enemies, and unfortunately, no one seems to want to eat them. And then it spreads a little too much, says Postmyr in the Norwegian Environment Agency. Senior advisor Egil Postmyr in the Norwegian Environment Agency. Photo: Gisle Jørgensen Havnespy can withstand temperatures between two minus degrees and plus 24 degrees. Thus, it has the potential to spread along the entire Norwegian coast. And right now the Norwegian Environment Agency is putting its trust in chemical weapons from researcher Husa. – There are no alternatives, as we see it, to a chemical treatment, says Postmyr.
ttn-69
Hope they have found the solution in combating harbor spew – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
