International scientific-practical conference on blue-green algae in Kazan

“Global distribution of processes of anthropogenic eutrophication of water bodies: problems and solutions”. The conference with a complex title reveals questions of a global scale – fight against blue-green algae. Cyanotoxins, their variety, and, the main question – how to fight? Ecologists, biologists, scientists from all over the world shared their experience in Tatarstan today. “The problem of water bodies pollution, eutrophication is relevant for the whole world. Therefore, we invited not only representatives of Russian science, instead, the conference is international. Water bodies protection is extremely important for the whole world, and Tatarstan has something to say. The ecological situation is stable, and today we can take a number of measures to prevent. Our best practices, programs, ways of saving water objects, presented today at the conference, aroused great interest among our colleagues from different countries.” Sergei Fokin, Director of FSBI of the Environmental Protection Research institute, told about the importance of holding the event in the Year of Ecology. He reminded that soon Kazan is expecting another important event – on June 9, the Seventh meeting of the Federal Ecological Council, chaired by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Sergei Donskoy, will be held.
Sewage entering the water bodies, anomalously high temperature in summer and low speed of water flow serve as a favorable environment for the development and reproduction of blue-green algae. “A number of water bodies of China died because of the cyanobacteria. And they can not be saved, – the professor, the head of the Center for studying cyanobacteria and their toxins, the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Marshalek Blaslav, shared his knowledge. – This problem is relevant for the whole world.” The significance of the conference was underscored by Shamil Pozdnyakov, director of the Institute of lake science of the Russian Academy of Sciences from St. Petersburg: “Pollution of water bodies and global temperature increase contribute to the development of blue-green algae. They are dangerous because with their death they can release toxic toxins that poison water. When combating blue-green algae, it is important to carry out a thorough and complex study of each water body. It can not be a panacea that is individual works, which must be adapted for each reservoir.” The problem is especially acute in tropical countries, according to Elizabeth Pohlon (University of Giessen, Germany), and most often, due to the high temperature, the reservoir becomes toxic, which leads to the death of fish. And today, she said, there is a need to unite in resolving this issue. She highly appreciated the experience of Tatarstan.
Based on the results of the conference, recommendations will be developed to reduce the massive development of unwanted algae and environmental risks to public health and natural ecosystems. The work will be continued tomorrow, on May 19, at KFU.

Press Service of MENR of RT