New Zealand builds an arsenal of tools to battle a ‘wily’ invasive seaweed
BAY OF ISLANDS, Aotearoa New Zealand — Since an invasive seaweed called caulerpa was discovered in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021, forming meadows that blanketed parts of the seabed, it’s taken on an almost mythical status among people who spend time in coastal waters. “It’s so wily and so resilient,” Michele Rogalin-Henderson, a doctoral candidate […]
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Bay of Islands has become a battleground against an invasive seaweed known as caulerpa. Discovered in 2021, this resilient and wily seaweed has blanketed parts of the seabed, earning a mythical status among coastal dwellers. Michele Rogalin-Henderson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland's Institute of Marine Science, likens the seaweed to a cunning adversary, anthropomorphizing its behavior in her research.
Stephen Te Tai, a commercial diver who specializes in removing caulerpa, particularly in the Bay of Islands, shares a similar sentiment. Despite the seaweed's diminutive size in winter, Te Tai feels its presence, describing its summertime growth as vibrant and strong. As Ngāti Hine, a Māori tribal grouping, Te Tai emphasizes the cultural significance of the ocean, stating that it is not merely a source of sustenance but a vital part of their identity, ancestral heritage, and future generations.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
