Research task force looks at more anti-algae methods

The blue-green algae task force is looking for new approaches to battle the blooms and got together Wednesday to talk about the efforts to use hydrogen peroxide as well as ultrasonic waves in another location.

First, the task force wants to see how the technology that is already in place has performed, so we’ll see some of the results Wednesday before the conversation is advanced on new technologies that could help in this fight. Those new methods could be along one of three routes: mechanical, chemical or biological.

This mechanical route involves ultrasound technology. A device resembling a buoy sits out on the water and sends out ultrasonic waves that control the microcystins that helps the algae grow.

“The idea is, if you keep it from coming right up to the surface, it’s not going to get enough light energy, so that’s going to actually suppress its growth,” said Mike Parsons, Ph.D., professor of marine science at the Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School. “And it might allow some other algae to become more competitive too. So it could suppress a bloom, and if you keep them out of the light long enough, it could actually kill the bloom, too.”

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