Blue-green algae observations have increased in coastal and open sea areas
Blue-green algae observations have increased in coastal and open sea areas, but the situation in inland waters is typical of the season. Blue-green algae have been observed especially on the coasts of Southwest Finland, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso. Abundant blue-green algae occur in the open sea area throughout the Gulf of Finland.
![Satellite image showing blue-green algae blooms in the southern parts of the Bothnian Sea on 16 July 2024.](/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/4a36af7e-d579-4055-ad60-482080f95e06-w_720.png)
Blue-green algae barometers of the open sea areas
![Graph%20showing%20the%20blue-green%20algae%20barometer%20in%20the%20western%20Gulf%20of%20Finland%20from%20June%20to%20September.%20It%20includes%20data%20from%202023%2C%202024%2C%20and%202009-2023%20with%20a%20scale%20from%200%20%28no%20blue-green%20algae%29%20to%203%20%28definite%20blue-green%20algae%29.](https://www.sttinfo.fi/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/762d369f-705c-4145-aad2-2655ecc9b451-w_720.png)
![Alt%20text%3A%20%22Graph%20titled%20%27Gulf%20of%20Finland%20Eastern%27%20showing%20blue-green%20algae%20observations%20from%202009%20to%202023.%20The%20y-axis%20represents%20the%20algae%20barometer%20with%20values%20from%200%20%28no%20algae%29%20to%203%20%28definite%20algae%29%2C%20and%20the%20x-axis%20lists%20dates%20from%2015%20June%20to%201%20September.%20The%20graph%20includes%20data%20points%20for%202023%2C%202024%2C%20and%20a%20shaded%20region%20for%202009-2023%20averages.%22](https://www.sttinfo.fi/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/f48e361c-b690-468a-b1c1-11b889b1be7f-w_720.png)
Link to the map
Map of the national blue-green algae monitoring observations on week 29
More in Finnish
Sinilevähavainnot ovat lisääntyneet rannikoilla ja avomerialueilla
Syke observes the cyanobacteria occurrence as part of the monitoring of the state of the environment in Finland
The national cyanobacterial monitoring is carried out as part of the monitoring of the state of the environment in cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, municipal environmental and health authorities, and the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke). Finnish Rotary Clubs are also actively involved in nationwide cyanobacterial monitoring.
The cyanobacterial monitoring is based on the monitoring of cyanobacterial deposits in surface water. The intention is to provide an overview of the cyanobacterial situation in different water bodies. The monitoring includes about 400 permanent observation sites across the country on inland and coastal waters and in the archipelago.
Information on the cyanobacterial situation in the open sea areas is mainly obtained from satellite images, but also from the Finnish Border Guard, the marine research vessel Aranda, the optical device located at the Utö Atmospheric and Marine Research Station, as well as cruise and merchant ships (MS Finnmaid and MS Silja Serenade) equipped with Alg@line measuring equipment. The drift forecasts for cyanobacterial rafts in open sea areas are prepared in cooperation with the Finnish Meteorological Institute's Maritime Services.
Syke reports on the national cyanobacterial situation on a weekly basis every Thursday from 20 June to 8 August 2024. The weekly algal reporting was launched in 1998.
Several compounds produced by cyanobacteria can cause health hazards
According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), cyanobacterial occurrences can cause health hazards. Cyanobacteria produce a number of different compounds that can cause symptoms. Some cyanobacteria can produce liver or nerve toxins, but most of the symptoms experienced by swimmers may also be due to other compounds.
Small children and pets should particularly be kept out of water rich with cyanobacteria. Water with cyanobacteria should not be used in a sauna or as washing or irrigation water.
If you suspect a poisoning, seek medical advice, or take the pet to a veterinarian. If necessary, the Poison Information Centre will provide additional instructions.
The municipal health authorities monitor the cyanobacterial situation on beaches.
More information about blue-green algae and health:
- At the the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) website
- At the Poison Information Center website
Report your cyanobacterial observations to the Järvi-meriwiki (Lake and sea wiki)
In Järvi-meriwiki, maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute, you can establish your own observation site and share cyanobacterial observations or make individual observations when moving around waterways. You can also report observations via the smartphone-friendly Havaintolähetti website.
The reported observations are shown on the national cyanobacterial observation map, and they support the national algal situation assessment. Observations about the absence of cyanobacteria are also important.
Järvi-meriwiki is an online service produced in collaboration with authorities and citizens. The service provides basic information on all lakes larger than one hectare as well as different areas of the Baltic Sea. Users can share, for example, photos and other observations on the service.
Municipalities and cities monitor the cyanobacterial situation on the beaches, so it is advisable to report rich cyanobacterial occurrences on beaches to the health authorities of the municipality in question.
This is how you identify cyanobacteria
A small amount of cyanobacteria in the water appears as green or yellowish particles. Narrow stripes of algae can drift to a beach. In calm weather, a substantial amount of cyanobacteria forms greenish or yellowish algal rafts and piles up in coastal water. In spring, yellowish pollen from coniferous trees may also be present in the water. Unlike cyanobacteria, pollen is found not only on the surface water but also, for example, on piers or yard furniture.
Cyanobacteria dissolve into tiny particles in the water if you touch the algal mass with a stick. If the algae become attached to the stick, they are something other than cyanobacteria. In a water vessel, cyanobacteria rise to the surface as tiny greenish particles within about an hour.
- Read more: How do you recognize blue-green algae?
Cyanobacterial observations also in the MarineFinland.fi and Waterinfo.fi services
The cyanobacterial maps presented on the websites MarineFinland.fi and Waterinfo.fi combine the observations reported to the Järvi-meriwiki and from the beaches of the City of Helsinki, as well as the observations based on satellite interpretations made by Syke during the last three days.
Keywords
Contacts
Communications:
Valtteri Toikka, Valtteri.Toikka@syke.fi, Tel. +358 295 251 364
Inquiries about blue-green algae situationTelephone 1 pm to 3 pm
Lakes: Tel +358 50 5734 347 or +358 295 251 326
State of the Baltic Sea: Tel +358 50 5693 297 or +358 295 251 314
Satellite observations: Tel 358 50 4707 576 or +358 295 251 329, e-mail: Eotuki@syke.fi
Media service at Finnish Environment Institute
Our Media Service provides information on research, helps journalists find experts for interviews and provides photos for media use.
Our Communication experts will answer your inquiries on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm.
Images
![Satellite image showing blue-green algae blooms in the southern parts of the Bothnian Sea on 16 July 2024.](/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/4a36af7e-d579-4055-ad60-482080f95e06-w_240.png)
![Alt text: "Graph titled 'Gulf of Finland Eastern' showing blue-green algae observations from 2009 to 2023. The y-axis represents the algae barometer with values from 0 (no algae) to 3 (definite algae), and the x-axis lists dates from 15 June to 1 September. The graph includes data points for 2023, 2024, and a shaded region for 2009-2023 averages."](/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/f48e361c-b690-468a-b1c1-11b889b1be7f-w_240.png)
![Graph showing the blue-green algae barometer in the western Gulf of Finland from June to September. It includes data from 2023, 2024, and 2009-2023 with a scale from 0 (no blue-green algae) to 3 (definite blue-green algae).](/data/images/public/69819243/70382029/762d369f-705c-4145-aad2-2655ecc9b451-w_240.png)
Links
Finnish Environment Institute - We build hope through research.
Finnish Environment Institute
Latokartanonkaari 11
00790 Helsinki
+358 295 251 000
It is time to move beyond solving environmental problems one by one, to systemic sustainability transformations. The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) contributes to building a sustainable society through research, information and services. The Finnish Environment Institute is a research institute with 700 experts and researchers located in Helsinki, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Joensuu.
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Observationerna av cyanobakterier har ökat vid kusterna och på öppna havsområden18.7.2024 13:08:13 EEST | Tiedote
Observationerna av cyanobakterier har ökat vid kusterna och på öppna havsområden, men i insjöarna är läget typisk för tidpunkten. I kustområdena har cyanobakterier observerats särskilt längs kusterna i Egentliga Finland, Nyland och Kymmenedalen. I det öppna havsområdet förekommer rikligt med cyanobakterier i hela Finska viken.
Sinilevähavainnot ovat lisääntyneet rannikoilla ja avomerialueilla18.7.2024 13:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Sinilevähavainnot ovat lisääntyneet rannikoilla ja avomerialueilla, mutta sisävesillä tilanne on ajankohdalle tyypillinen. Rannikkoalueilla sinilevää on havaittu erityisesti Varsinais-Suomen, Uudenmaan ja Kymenlaakson rannikoilla. Avomerialueella sinilevää esiintyy runsaasi koko Suomenlahden alueella.
Observationerna av cyanobakterier har ökat något i insjöarna11.7.2024 14:50:43 EEST | Tiedote
Observationerna av cyanobakterier har ökat något i insjöarna i hela landet och observationer har gjorts ända till Lappland. På öppet hav finns det nu cyanobakterier i Finska viken och Skärgårdshavet, i södra Bottenhavet håller cyanobakterier på att utvecklas. I kustområdet har cyanobakterier fortfarande observerats huvudsakligen vid Nylands och Egentliga Finlands kuster och antalet observationer har knappt förändrats alls.
Slight increase in blue-green algae observations in inland waters11.7.2024 14:40:48 EEST | Press release
Blue-green algae observations have increased slightly throughout the country, and observations have been made even in Lapland. Blue-green algae now occur in the Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea. In the southern part of the Bothnian Sea blue-green algae are just developing. Blue-green algae have still been observed in the coastal area, mainly on the coasts of Uusimaa and Southwest Finland, and the number of observations has not changed much.
Sinilevähavainnot sisävesillä lisääntyneet hieman11.7.2024 13:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Sinilevähavainnot ovat hieman lisääntyneet sisävesillä koko maassa, ja havaintoja on tehty aina Lappia myöten. Avomerellä sinilevää on nyt Suomenlahdella ja Saaristomerellä, Selkämeren eteläosassa sinilevä on vasta kehittymässä. Rannikkoalueella sinilevää on havaittu edelleen pääasiassa Uudenmaan ja Varsinais-Suomen rannikolla, eikä havaintojen määrä ole juurikaan muuttunut. Huom! Korjattu tiedotteen lopussa: Kuluvalla viikolla Järvi-meriwikin ja Vesi.fi:n kautta saatiin enemmän kansalaishavaintoja kuin viime viikolla.
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