A team of researchers from Vancouver Island University and the University of Victoria are studying the movement and fate of a seaweed called Mazzaella japonica, and they are asking for the public’s help.
“To investigate the fate and dispersal of this particular kind of seaweed, we are releasing small bundles of the seaweed tied with brightly coloured, non-toxic, biodegradable flagging tape at two sites in the Deep Bay/Bowser region. A total of 100 small bundles will be released at two beaches and the tape will be labeled with special identification numbers,” said Sarah Dudas, a researcher in VIU’s biology department.
Researchers will monitor the beaches on a bi-weekly basis until Feb. 9, but if members of the public happen to see the specially marked bundles, they are asked to e-mail jjholden@uvic.ca.
“We’d like to know the date, time and location of the sighting, as well as the colour of the flagging tape and identification numbers,” says Dudas.