Orange County Coastkeeper is participating in surveying and eradicating the invasive algae called Caulerpa prolifera in Newport Bay. The algae, which is native to Florida and other subtropical and tropical locales, is scientifically known as Caulerpa prolifera. It can grow quickly and spread easily, choking out native seaweeds and potentially harming marine life through lost habitat.
The removal effort is being led by Merkel & Associates and Marine Taxonomic Services, and began in early July in Newport Bay’s China Cove, next to the Kerckhoff Marine Laboratory. Removal involves a diver-assisted suction and divers in the water surveying the area and removing loose pieces and fragments. Coastkeeper is conducting dive surveys and monitoring in the surrounding coves just north of where the invasive species was first detected.
By City News Service
Photo: Getty Images
NEWPORT BEACH (CNS) - An aggressive algae spreading in Newport Bay could harm marine life, and Orange County Coastkeeper announced today that it is joining the effort to eradicate the invasive species.
The algae, known as Caulerpa Prolifera, is not native to the area and has been identified as detrimental to local habitats, according to Orange County Coastkeeper, a nonprofit clean water organization that acts as a steward for freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and is part of the International Waterkeeper Alliance.
Coastkeeper is participating in surveying and eradicating the algae, which is native to Florida and other subtropical and tropical locales and can grow quickly, choking out native species such as eel grass – and potentially harm marine life through lost habitat.
Cleaning of Newport Harbor of invasive algae species completed, but diver surveys will continue
Field manager Robert Mooney shares pieces of an invasive algae species, Caulerpa prolifera, that was filtered through a filtration system set up at China Cove Beach in Newport Beach earlier this month.
(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)
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Vacuum dredging of an invasive algae species out from Newport Harbor was completed earlier this month, but city officials extended a local emergency declaration on the issue to allow for federal and state officials to complete the final stages of its removal.
Divers will soon be conducting surveys in and around Newport Harbor over the next few weeks to check for any other signs of
Newport Beach News
Caulerpa prolifera
A coordinated effort to remove and eradicate an invasive algae species from Newport Harbor began on July 7.
The invasive algae, scientifically known as Caulerpa prolifera, was discovered in the China Cove beach area of Newport Harbor in March. Since then, the City has been working with multiple federal, state and local agencies to identify the extent of the algae growth and to develop a removal plan.
Using a careful and deliberate method over an anticipated 4-5 days, divers will extract the invasive plant from the seafloor using vacuum pumps. The material will then be pumped onshore into a container where the algae and other solids are separated from the harbor water. The discharged water will be handled with great caution to prevent reintroduction of the algae to the bay environment.
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