Controlling Sea Spurge (Euphorbia paralias)

Sea spurge is an invasive weed that threatens native species of plants and animals in  coastal areas.

Sea spurge is a small leafy shrub of pale green colour. It grows about 70 centimetres in height and has multiple stems covered in small, tightly packed leaves.

Once it is established, a sea spurge colony can spread rapidly, displacing the native vegetation and changing the beach's structure.

This can disrupt many native species, including the endangered such as the hooded plovers that use open sand pits for nesting.

Our Conservation Team has recently released a foliar fungal pathogen called Venturia paralias, to use biocontrol for sea spurge.

Working with CSIRO, who conducted thorough testing before allowing its release, the team is hopeful it will assist in reaching a 50% reduction (CVS 5-year objective) in coverage within the Central Zone (Separation Creek to Marengo).

Sea Spurge management can be extremely time-consuming and labour-intensive. Several community groups in the area have worked tirelessly to control its spread to no avail.

Wye to Wongarra is currently conducting hand removal of Sea Spurge at Kennett River.

Our team conducted the release of Venturia paralis fungal at Petticoat Creek and Marengo Back Beach. If the sea spurge is successfully infected with the fungus when the team check-in late December, the aspiration is to spread it across the entire Central Zone.