Algal blooms found off the coast of Sri Lanka are not toxic to other marine life, a researcher at the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) which is probing the cause of the phenomenon said.

The algal blooms were found in Dehiwala, Moratuwa-Angulana, Kalutara-Payagala areas and some cases in Chilaw areas about 4-17 kilometres off the coast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean

NARA has identified the cause of the blooms a species of diatom microalgae. Diatoms are photosynthetic and produce oxygen.

“It was identified as a Navicula Diatom alga which is not a poisonous species, but we found it in high densities than before,” Shyamalika Weerasekara, Head of Environmental Studies Division at (NARA) said.

https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-probes-diatom-algal-blooms-in-the-indian-ocean-73608/