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Seaweed Is Harming Coral

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

May 25, 2000

PALM BEACH, Fla., May 25 -- A seaweed that feeds on water polluted by agricultural runoff and sewage is choking marine life along six miles of deep-water reefs off South Florida, scientists warn.

The vegetation crowds out and smothers coral, invertebrates and other organisms native to ocean reefs. And because fish do not like to eat the toxic algae, they move away from the reefs, said Brian LaPointe, a specialist in coral reef ecology.

Patches of the seaweed, Caulerpa alga, began appearing on the reefs about 10 years ago and now cover many acres, Dr. LaPointe said.

Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company