Conservationists 'shocked' by coral bed deterioration in Cornwall
Marine scientists and conservationists have expressed shock after finding ancient coral beds in Cornwall smothered in algae caused by sewage and run-off.An organised dive to explore maerl beds as part of the UK Maerl Forum took place off St Mawes in April and revealed a "worrying deterioration" in the ecosystems, Cornwall Wildlife Trust said.Maerl beds consist of fragile, rare and slow-growing red calcified seaweed which acts as a nursery for commercial fish and shellfish species, it added.Matt Slater, a marine conservation officer at the trust, said it was "a massive concern" and improvement to the water quality in the Fal Estuary was needed urgently.
'Very sombre atmosphere'
Organised by Cornwall Council and Natural England, the forum aimed to increase collaboration and create an action plan for the protection of Cornwall's maerl bed.Mr Slater said: "It was a shocking sight. "The area, which was previously purple and beautiful, is now covered with a thick layer of brown, fluffy algae. "We've surveyed here regularly for the past eight years and I have never seen the maerl beds looking like this."It was a very sombre atmosphere."Cornwall Wildlife Trust said mobile fishing gear was damaging maerl beds, as well as a deterioration in water quality.It added scallop dredges and beam trawls, which could destroy up to 70% of the live maerl nodules, were of "particular concern".
Mr Slater said: "Maerl grows so slowly. If you lose it, there's very little chance you'll be able to grow it back; certainly not within our lifetime."Maerl beds, which also act as a vital carbon store, were recently classified as irreplaceable marine habitats by Natural England, Cornwall Wildlife Trust said.The trust said it was working with farmers to reduce agricultural run-off and with fishers on sustainable management practises.
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an hour ago
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This includes treatments like darunavir (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), and nevirapine (Viramune). They advise using condoms or switching to a non-hormonal method if you're on one of these medications. Stop the injections if you're pregnant DR Zoe Williams is The Sun's resident GP. Q: What if I am pregnant and taking fat jabs? The fact these drugs suppress appetite means the majority of women who got pregnant on them will have come off, because they are nourishing their baby. The advice is to come off them immediately if you're either pregnant or breastfeeding and speak to your doctor if you have any concerns. Q: Why has this advice been issued now? It is because not enough is known about the effect on pregnancy. It's not from studies that found any adverse effects. As a result, the advice is preventative until more is known. If women are on any weight loss jabs and want a baby, the advice is to come off it at least two months before trying. 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The British National Formulary (BNF) suggests playing it safe by using extra contraception, like condoms, while on modafinil and for two months after stopping. Herbal remedies St John's Wort is a common herbal remedy for mild to moderate depression, but if you take it, be aware it can reduce the effectiveness of the pill. Like many of the other drugs listed here, it increases how quickly contraceptive hormones are broken down in the body. The MHRA warns that St John's Wort can interfere with hormonal contraceptives, so it's best to use a backup method like condoms while taking it. 3
