Coastal reefs being destroyed by pollution-fed algae

From a story by John McPhaul distributed by Reuters:

San Jose, Costa Rica - A tropical algae thriving on fertilisers from hotel golf courses and badly treated sewage is killing one of Costa Rica's most important coastal reefs, scientists say.

The green, feather-like algae is spreading along the reefs of Culebra Bay in Costa Rica's north-western Gulf of Papagayo, a popular scuba diving spot and home to a rare species of coral. The algae blocks the sunlight and suffocates the reefs.

A tourism and construction boom along the palm tree-lined beaches is creating nitrogen- and phosphate-rich waste that feeds the algae, known as Caulerpa sertularioides, and Costa Rica is only just becoming aware of the problem.

The Mesoamerican Reef experiences similar negative impacts from contamination.

The photo shows dead coral overgrown with algae.
Photo by Wolcott Henry via Marine Photobank.