Many people have been left wondering what has caused the influx of sea foam after the weekend’s storms.
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Over the last few days masses of white bubbles have covered Tathra Beach, in some places metres deep blocking road access, but what is the curious sea foam also known as ocean foam, beach foam, or spume?
According to Graeme Clark from the University of New South Wales’ Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology laboratory the foam is a natural part of sea life.
“Seawater is a rich soup of dissolved organic matter and other tiny particles,” Dr Clark said.
“When seawater is agitated by wind and waves, the particles can breakdown and act as foaming agents.
“In turbulent water, such as in heavy surf, these foaming agents can trap air bubbles and create sea foam.”
Dr Clark said that in most cases the foam is harmless, but unless tested the toxicity of the foam is not known.
“This is natural process and foam is generally safe to humans, unless the organic matter that created the foam is harmful,” Dr Clark said.
“For example, some sea foam results from harmful algal blooms, which contains compounds toxic to humans and marine animals.”
The foam can be scientifically tested to see if it is safe for human and animal contact, he said.
“That would be the way to find out, but not something I would recommend for financial reasons, since the risk is generally pretty low,” Dr Clark said.
Many local residents visited Tathra Beach on Tuesday morning to witness first hand the damage caused by the rough seas.
New owners of the Tathra Beach Cafe and Tapas Bar situated next to the surf club Caro Fraser and Lona Berlowitz from Thredbo were glad it was just sea foam that had engulfed their business.
“The whole building was covered in foam yesterday,” Ms Fraser said.
“We’re just really lucky it was just foam.
“I must say I curse the bush in front of us blocking the view, but it saved us.”
Ms Berlowitz said the foam attracted many local children and families on Monday and she regretted closing the business due to the weather.
“It was just irresistible to jump into and we made the decision to close yesterday but we would’ve made a fortune,” she said.
It wasn’t just the foam making life difficult in Tathra with damage caused across Mogareeka and erosion at Tathra Beach creating a two metre steep drop just metres from the surf club.
Tathra resident Ant Little said the surf and the damage to the beach has been the most devastating he has ever seen.
“I haven’t seen anything even close to this before,” he said.
“It’s nature, it happens and it will be interesting to see where all the sand has gone.”
John Moulton drove from Turingal Head in Bournda to witness the rough seas.
“We’ve lived down here since 1990 and I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said.
“It’s spectacular.”
Tired of being cooped up at home, Jamie Forbes and Becky Lupton travelled from Bega via the only open access roads through Wolumla, Merimbula and Wallagoot with their daughter Stella for lunch in Tathra.
“Yesterday we did the Bega tour and today we are doing the Tathra tour,” Ms Lupton said.