Chinese algae ousts Venice's native seaweed

Venice's canals are being threatened by algae from as far as China, Japan and Korea. According to an article published in the bulletin of Venice's natural history museum, the algae has become the dominant species in the lagoon, ousting the native dark green seaweed.

Daniele Curiel, one of the researchers who discovered the Undaria pinnatifida, or Asian kelp, told the newspaper La Repubblica that the effects were not as dramatic as in 1989 when the lagoon was blighted by rotting algae from the Adriatic. Then several hundred miles of yellow scum saw tourist revenue plummet.