Briefly in the news

Surf City Assemblyman Tom Harman continues to keep an eye on

Huntington’s shores.

Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill written by Harman last week banning the

sale of an algae known as caulerpa taxifolia, which scientists have

dubbed “killer algae.”

The algae is often used in saltwater aquariums as a filtration and

food source. When people dispose of the contents of the aquariums into

estuaries or saltwater lagoons the algae multiplies, blanketing the sea

floor and destroying natural organisms.

This algae has recently been discovered off the coast of Huntington

Beach and areas of Northern San Diego County. Efforts to eradicate this

algae off Huntington Beach have already cost the Water Quality Control

Board $1.5 million and the process is not yet complete, said David

Weaver, a representative from Harman’s office.

Under the new law possession of the noxious weed could result in fines

anywhere from $500 to $10,000.