BY: NUR SALAWATI

In Penang Middle Bank, a deep green carpet of seaweed, the size of over 40 football fields, has sprung up in the sea off Penang Bridge, which is a spectacular sight of nature to behold by people on the island.

This phenomenon can be seen off Karpal Singh Drive on the island or to the right of Penang Bridge on the way to the island and is attributed to the climate change of rainy weather which caused its intense growth.

A marine biologist from Universiti Sains Malaysia stated that these carpets of macroalgae (commonly referred to as seaweed) are now a source of food and shelter for millions of marine life forms.

These microalgae absorb excess organic nutrients flowing out of Penang and help the sea become cleaner as most of the growth is Ulva Lactuca or sea lettuce which is a delicacy among the people of Penang.

Penang Middle Bank, is a large and precious sand bank that is visible only during low tide and these microalgae usually grows abundantly when the rainy season starts and if there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

Penang Middle Bank, which has been around since the 1800s, even during the highest tide, is barely a few metres underwater. This means direct sunlight can still reach it and it is so large that it has a huge impact on the fisheries ecosystem.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher