KUALA NERUS, Nov 15: Do not touch or handle clumps of red seaweed that have been washed ashore on the beaches of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) as they may cause itchiness.
Head of the UMT Reference & Repository Centre (RRC-UMT), Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Hafiz Borkhanuddin, said the advice was issued because physical contact with the species, which belongs to the Ceramiales group, may cause itching among individuals with sensitive skin.
He said the appearance of red seaweed is commonly observed ahead of the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) transition, when strong winds, coastal currents and powerful waves dislodge the species from the seabed and push it ashore.
“Recently, we have observed a phenomenon of red seaweed washing up along the UMT beach. The seaweed is light red, thread-like with short segments, soft and not easily broken.
“It is not toxic, but it is easily damaged when exposed to freshwater such as rain. The risk to humans relates mainly to physical contact on the beach or in the water, and individuals with sensitive skin may experience itching,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Muhammad Hafiz said seaweed has a wide global distribution, occurring in both temperate and tropical regions.
He added that similar occurrences of seaweed washing ashore on the UMT coastline were recorded between August and December 2003, as well as in October 2016.
“Seaweed clumps that are not collected will undergo natural degradation. The liquid produced during this process will accumulate beneath the clumps, emitting a foul odour and attracting large numbers of small insects.
“The main risk is the release of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause dizziness and nausea. Therefore, the public is advised to avoid any activities in areas where red seaweed has washed up,” he said.
However, Dr Muhammad Hafiz said that the phenomenon is not a sign of pollution, but rather a natural process within the coastal ecosystem, where seaweed serves as a temporary habitat for small marine organisms such as amphipods, isopods and coastal insects.
— BERNAMA