Over the last two to three years, an invasive algae has been gaining ground on the seabeds of the Sines coast, generating concerns among scientists about the effects it may have on local biodiversity. This is Rugulopteryx okamurae, a species originally from the Pacific that arrived on the Portuguese coast through the Mediterranean.
The algae was identified near the marina of Sines Port about a decade ago, having first established itself in the Algarve and subsequently progressed northwards. What is concerning researchers is the fact that its expansion on the seabed of Sines has accelerated significantly in recent years.
According to Joaquim Parrinha, a researcher at the University of Coimbra and the Centre for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE), the increase in water temperature has been favorable for exponential growth in all areas up to 12 meters depth.
