Eradicating the world’s worst aquatic weed
Four decades after its accidental introduction, hydrilla – known as the world’s worst submerged weed – has been almost completely eradicated from New Zealand. This highly invasive weed has been 99-percent cleared from four small lakes in Hawkes Bay, thanks to research and advice from NIWA’s freshwater biosecurity team. The risk of spread of this weed is now minimal.