That Was Green Marker Dye in Atuu

green-coloring

The US Coast Guard has determined why the sea turned a fluorescent green color at Atuu on Friday.

Frank Thomsen of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Unit says the discoloring of the ocean was traced to a bucket of green marker dye.

This type of dye is used by purse seiners to mark purse seine nets and is non toxic.

Residents of Atuu and Lepua and motorists passing by posted photos of the section of the ocean which turned a light greenish color and reported what they saw to several agencies.

Other than the Coast Guard, ASG agencies who responded to the calls were Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Homeland Security and Environmental Protection Agency.

Thomsen said the dye may have been washed off a vessel during the recent heavy weather.

The Coast Guard determined there was no further reason to investigate.

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