Residents of Marine Drive treated to rare algae bloom on Coastal Road site | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Residents of Marine Drive‘s sea-facing buildings are being treated to the rare and unexpected appearance of algae on the rocky shores facing them.

Anirudh Somani, a resident of Shreeniketan building, said, “Over the decades, the tetrapods lining the shore have never had moss growing on them. However, this year it can be seen on the rocks which were placed when the Coastal Road work began. I shared these pictures I shot with my parents and in-laws who have lived in the area for many decades. They also said they have not seen such moss before.”
Atul Kumar, president of the Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Association (NPCCA), said, “No moss has ever been seen on the tetrapods, retaining wall or parapet of Marine Drive. So everyone is curious to know why this is happening.” He said the formation was only on a small stretch though ahead of the Princess Street flyover (north bound) and not along the entire promenade. Chief engineer of the Coastal Road project, Mantayya Swami said, marine biodiversity can be sustained by natural rock formations. “The sea wall in case of the Coastal Road is constructed with natural rocks instead of Tetrapods,” he said.

Marine researchers said algae formations require conducive temperatures. Swapnil Tandel, a marine biologist and senior scientist at ClimaCrew Pvt Ltd, said such green algae is common in monsoons along intertidals zones in coastal belts. “Such algae grows on hard substratum if there are suitable water conditions coupled with required temperatures. Green algae are primary food for herbivore fish” said Tandel.
Another marine biologist Prachi Hatkar emphasized the importance of assessing nutrient influx to determine changes in water conditions. She explained that increased nutrient influx leads to more algal blooms. Establishing baseline data is crucial to identify shifts in water quality, she said. Regarding the impact of ongoing coastal road construction, Hatkar said concrete entering the sea degrades water quality. She noted that sulphates attack concrete, causing expansion, but chloride presence in seawater hinders concrete swelling. “Sulphur, a vital macro element, aids in various organism functions. Algae absorb sulphur as sulphate, supporting their metabolism and homeostasis,” she said.