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Pacific Invasive Alga Overwhelms Algerian Beaches, Volunteers Race to Clear Shoreline

Charities, with support from dozens of volunteers, have cleared large accumulations from 16 beaches in response to a government appeal for help.

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Volunteers remove piles of washed-up seaweed of the invasive Rugulopteryx okamurae algae, originating from east Asia, from Al-Marsa beach in Algiers on July 30, 2025.
A volunteer helps remove piles of washed-up seaweed of the invasive Rugulopteryx okamurae algae, originating from east Asia, from Al-Marsa beach in Algiers on July 30, 2025.

Overview

  • Rugulopteryx okamurae first appeared on Algerian shores in late 2023 and now blankets sands on at least 16 beaches in Algiers and has spread across three coastal provinces.
  • A mid-2025 government call mobilized charities and volunteer groups to rake away tons of the smelly brown seaweed and restore beach access.
  • The alga reproduces at high rates through sexual, asexual and fragmentation processes and adheres to boat hulls to hitchhike between ports.
  • Marine scientists warn that full eradication is unachievable under current conditions and continue to monitor the species’ rapid proliferation.
  • Researchers are exploring ways to repurpose the removed biomass, including pilot tests to convert it into agricultural fertilizer.