Marine invader Caulerpa present in the Bay of Islands

Photo: Irene Middleton, NIWAFor the invasive Caulerpa (Caulerpa brachypus and Caulerpa parvifolia) , 

see: https://niwa.co.nz/news/marine-invader-caulerpa-triggers-biosecurity-response 

https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/52861-Caulerpa-parvifolia-and-Caulerpa-brachypus-fact-sheet-2022 )

 

If you see it:

1. Leave it where it is

2. Take a photo and record the location

3. Ring MPI 0800 8099 66 or go to mpi.govt. nz/caulerpa

 

Please note that there are several native Caulerpas in the Bay of Islands.These are quite different to the alien species. The most common is Caulerpa brownii  (see https://inaturalist.nz/taxa/462101-Caulerpa-brownii ). This is common on some subtidal sand/rock flats (e.g.off Rocky Beach at Tapeka, off Long Beach, between Urupukapuka and Motukiekie Islands). Much less common is Caulerpa geminata  ( see: https://guatemala.inaturalist.org/taxa/446759-Caulerpa-geminata ) and Caulerpa acutifolia (I can't find any online images apart from the MPI fact sheet about the alien Caulerpas).