Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand

Coastal Dune Ecosystem Reference Database

Sea spurge: A serious new threat to New Zealand's beaches Factsheet

Author
Ministry for Primary Industries
Year
2012
Publisher / Organisation
Ministry for Primary Industries
Month
May
Pages
1
Species
Euphorbia paralias, sea spurge
Summary
The beach weed sea spurge, Euphorbia paralias, has been found at a beach near Aotea Harbour in the Waikato. It may also be at other beaches. This invasive weed would seriously impact on our coastal environments if it became established. Sea spurge infestations have caused major environmental problems at many Australian beaches by displacing native plants and changing natural patterns of sand movement. It is likely to have arrived on ocean currents from Australia.