Another exotic seaweed species, Asparagopsis taxiformis, has been found in two different areas of the North Island and alarm bells are ringing in the scientific community. At this stage experts say it’s hard to predict what impact the species could have on biodiversity in Aotearoa’s moana.
The foreign red seaweed looks similar to the country’s native species Asparagopsis armata. Biosecurity New Zealand experts are currently conducting a risk assessment to determine how it will react to the New Zealand marine environment.
• Silvia Massa
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