Azores at the heart of Portugal’s invasive seaweed response plan

Portugal’s Government has approved a 2026-2030 national programme to monitor, contain and reduce the impacts of the invasive seaweed Rugulopteryx okamurae. In the Azores, the species was first identified in 2019 and has since been recorded on eight of the archipelago’s nine islands.

The plan calls for earlier detection through a georeferenced national database, surveillance stations, cameras in critical areas, satellite imagery and unmanned aerial systems. Measures on the ground are to be adapted to each site and may include manual or mechanical removal, extraction from the water column, and containment or diversion barriers.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, eradication is no longer considered realistic because of the species’ characteristics and its current spread. The programme instead focuses on preventing expansion into new areas and reducing impacts where the seaweed is already established, including rules for the sealed transport and temporary onshore storage of collected biomass.

It also provides for trials of sustainable removal methods, environmental and economic impact assessments, ecological restoration after interventions, and research into potential uses for the recovered biomass. Training and awareness work is planned for communities connected to fisheries, tourism and bathing areas.

For the Azores, the spread raises concerns for coastal ecosystems and for activities that depend on the sea. Reported risks include lower catches, damage to fishing gear, reduced beach appeal and added municipal costs for removing accumulated biomass.