Stalking an Alien Seaweed
Hawaii

In 1974, a red seaweed called hookweed was introduced to Hawaii to produce carrageenan, a food thickener. Today, hookweed chokes Hawaii’s shallow waters. The industry never materialized, and virtually no one eats the seaweed otherwise.

Hookweed snags native seaweeds as it grows and washes ashore. Now biologists fear hookweed will infest the pristine Northwestern Hawaiian Islands reserve. Divers are currently monitoring several sightings of the invader there.

Researchers
NOAA
Isabella Abbott, University of Hawaii 

Image Credits
North America in October – Blue Marble Next Generation, NASA MODIS, Terra satellite
Maui – NASA GLCF Landsat ETM+
Hawaiian Islands – NASA MODIS