Let’s go!

Let’s go. We are embarking on the Algonauts’Road, going around the world in order to meet people who use algae to “innovate and propose solutions for future generations”, as says Anne-Gaëlle. What a program!

I have a little trouble to realize. We first evoked that idea a few months ago, I had no idea it would become a reality! What a bizarre idea.

Between you and me, Anne-Gaëlle thinks that there is a lot of potential with algae but so far, they do not inspire me at all: green tides1, toxic blooms2 or goémon3 washed up on the beach which diffuse an awful scent many kilometers around… Apart for making the tourists running away, I really do not see how useful they can be.

With all the preparation and so many things to complete before leaving, the D day arrived quickly. Why did I say yes…

Learn more

The algae that Jacqueline is talking about have generally a very bad reputation! She will soon discover that the algae world is huge, both in its diversity of species or in applications derived from algae. Instead of being a problem, algae could be a solution. It is an injustice to reduce the algae to these phenomena, nevertheless, these blooms refect the state of health of our coastal zones and can have serious economical and environmental consequences. The alga is a messenger, we will have the chance to observe that later!

  1. A green tide refers to a phenomenon when massive amounts of green algae are washed up on the coast. These green algae are Ulva, also commonly called sea lettuce. They are naturally present in the marine environment and do not produce toxins. Their development depends on the water temperature, sunshine and water composition. They proliferate when the waters are rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. At the mercy of winds and currents, algae are washed up and enter into putrefaction. This degradation by bacteria can lead to a release of toxic gas (hydrogen sulfide): inhaled in large quantities, it can be hazardous to health. More explanations coming soon in the chapter “Green”! ↩

  2. **Toxic blooms, also called Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), refer to events of proliferation of some toxin-producing microalgae species. We often hear about toxic phytoplankton. These toxins can be dangerous for marine fauna or for shellfish consumers. Indeed, some of these toxins accumulate in shellfish and are not destroyed with heat during cooking. Depending on the kind of toxins, the consumption of contaminated shellfish can cause diarrhea, paralysis or amnesia. In France (where Jacqueline is from), the detection and monitoring of phytoplankton species producing toxins is ensured through the REPHY (Network for Observation and Monitoring of Phytoplankton and Phycotoxins) implemented by IFREMER. Based on weekly analysis results, the county administrative authorities may ban shellfish harvest and sales for some time. ↩

  3. The goémon is a word derived from breton language gwemon. Used commonly in Brittany, Normandy and Quebec, it refers to marine seaweeds as a whole. The “goémon de rive” (seaweeds from the coast) refers to algae fixed on the rocks. fixées sur les rochers. The “goémon de fond” (seaweeds from the bottom) refers seaweed harvested in the sea (like Laminaria species). The “goémon d’épave” (wrecked seaweeds) are seaweeds wahsed up on the coast, whose volumes can be important after storms. ↩