Warning! Warning! Algae bloom heading towards us that'll make the Huangpu even grosser than normal! "A large expanse of green algae is floating towards China's east coast, potentially threatening marine life and the region's tourism industry, an official and state media said Wednesday. The algae covers 130 square kilometres (50 square miles) off the eastern provinces of Shandong and Jiangsu... An official in the forecasting department of the agency told AFP the size of the algae was "likely to turn out to be larger than that" reported by the newspaper, but "should be similar to regular years". Algae blooms are typically caused by pollution in China and suck up huge amounts of oxygen needed by marine wildlife to survive, while leaving a foul stench when they wash up on beaches." [AFP more ›

Local authorities have said they will be releasing 20 million fish - silver and green carp - to combat the overwhelming pollution that runs rampant in Taihu Lake near Suzhou, our next door neighbor in China's eastern Jiangsu province. Crazy? Maybe not. more ›

A thick layer of mutant seaweed has bloomed over vast stretches of the 500-mile coastline of the Qingdao Bao, an Olympic sailing venue. As the algae can only be removed manually, the city has already mobilised 1,000 fishing boats and 3,000 people to haul in algae by the boatloads. Qingdao (青岛) which literally means "green island" is prone to summer algae infestations this time of the year, but apparently this is the worst the city has ever seen, and scientists at the Qingdao Weather Bureau believe this to be due to "warmer waters, increased rainfall and high levels of nutrients in the ocean". Last year, algae outbreaks occurred simultaneously in freshwater lakes all across China. When the Olympics comes, officials in the city will be praying for wind. Last August, a regatta at the 430-million-dollar marina "saw contestants drift in a windless Yellow Sea". more ›