$10 Million Boost for Exotic Caulerpa Seaweed Control and Innovation

“Finding and removing new, small patches of caulerpa early is crucial for successful eradication,” Hoggard explained.

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced a $10 million funding boost aimed at advancing the fight against exotic caulerpa seaweed, a highly invasive species causing significant ecological concerns. This new investment builds on a previous $5 million allocation earlier this year dedicated to rapidly developing technologies for locating and eliminating caulerpa.

Minister Hoggard acknowledged the difficulty of managing exotic caulerpa, noting that no country has successfully controlled or eradicated it on the scale faced in New Zealand. Despite the challenge, the additional funds will support continued efforts to refine and advance technology and tools necessary to combat this persistent problem.

"This new funding will sustain the momentum in improving our technology and tools, and will be used to help slow the spread of caulerpa," Hoggard said. "We recognize the desire of affected communities to persist in this battle and are encouraged by recent technological advancements."

The new work programme will build on insights from earlier efforts, including a $3.3 million large-scale mechanical suction dredging project in Omakiwi Cove, Northland. This project made significant progress but also highlighted the ongoing challenges of achieving efficient and cost-effective removal.

Additionally, innovations such as cameras mounted on towed and remote-operated vehicles have been developed to detect caulerpa and identify it in real-time using artificial intelligence. These advancements are among several promising technologies developed by iwi, communities, and scientists.

The additional $10 million will be used for further technological development and trials, focusing on high-value or high-risk locations. Efforts will also include educational campaigns to prevent the spread of caulerpa, support for community coordination, and research to better understand the pest's impacts.

"Finding and removing new, small patches of caulerpa early is crucial for successful eradication," Hoggard explained.

The contribution of iwi and local communities has been vital, and their efforts are deeply appreciated. An Exotic Caulerpa National Advisory Group has been established to prioritize the use of the new funding and explore ongoing management strategies.

"This government is committed to taking all practical steps to address this issue," said Hoggard. "We are dedicated to supporting communities and advancing our efforts to control and eventually eradicate exotic caulerpa."