White foam covering Manly Lagoon is natural occurrence

Floating white blobs covering a large part of Manly Lagoon has spurred council staff to investigate.

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Environmental officers have investigated huge swathes of white foam floating on the surface of the water in Manly Lagoon.

But the Manly Daily can reveal the cause of the unsightly white blobs is not due to pollution, but down to a natural occurrence, according to Northern Beaches Council.

White foam has been spotted collecting in Manly Lagoon. Picture: Julie Cross

The foam which is covering large parts of the lagoon both east and west of Pittwater Rd is spume, caused by froth or foam from waves.

It occurs during incidences of high tide along peninsula beaches.

Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said council staff have inspected Manly Lagoon and confirmed that the foam present is naturally occurring sea foam, referred to as spume, that is generated by ocean wind and waves.

White blobs have been spotted floating in Manly Lagoon. Picture: Julie Cross

“The spume has washed into the lagoon following recent high tides and large waves,” he said.

“It is not toxic and will dissipate over the next couple of days.”