Coastal threat set to stay as sea life continue to die on South Australian beaches
Marine life continues to die and wash up on beaches across Adelaide due to the bloom.
In March, a notable foam — likened by some to the froth on a milkshake — and its effects were first noticed by surfers at Waitpinga, about 100km from Adelaide, with the EPA reporting the algae being the toxic micro-algae karenia mikimotoi.
This comes two weeks after a strong storm surge drove the algae back up the Murray River at Goolwa, entering the Coorong through the Murray Mouth — where the river meets the Southern Ocean.
It has since been found on beaches from Cape Jervis to Encounter Bay, with the algae now being reported on the western side of Adelaide's beaches.
Locals have found hundreds of rarely seen sea creatures dead on the sand.
There is no 'magic wand' to remove the algae from Adelaide coastlines, with the algae simply waiting on the sea floor until the water warms up again, Minister for Primary Industries and Regions Susan Close said on Monday.
'What we are experiencing is the effects of climate change, it is what happens when you have an ongoing marine heatwave off our coast,' Close said.
'We are forecasting over the next 12 months (for the reoccurrence of the algae).'
More than 80 researches from both Adelaide and around the world are helping in research efforts to keep an eye on the algae and its effects on the marine life, Close said.
The storms that were predicted to remove the toxic algae, have since proved to benefit it instead, with it now spreading further across SA coastlines.
'To storms and cooler temperatures, we are seeing the algae being very persistent in South Australian waters,' Close said.
'We've seen the large mass of algae, the depth of some 20 metres and the size of Kangaroo Island break up significantly.
'What has happened is a lot of it has just been moved around into other parts of South Australia waters, including the metropolitan coast.
'This is of concern because we are continuing to see marine life washing up on our coastline.'
Human exposure, which includes breathing in algae particles, can cause respiratory and eye irritation or skin rashes in some people, while ingestion could cause stomach upsets or flu-like symptoms.
The particles can become airborne and affect nearby beachside properties.
In the meantime, PIRSA and SA Health have advised the public not to collect or eat any dead or dying fish or marine organisms found along the shore.
To report unusual sightings of fish kills or affected marine life, residents are urged to contact FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522. Concerns about water quality can be reported to the EPA at 1800 623 445 or by emailing yourepa@sa.gov.au.
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ABC News
12 hours ago
- ABC News
South Australia's toxic algal bloom detected at West Lakes, Port River to be tested
The state government says preliminary samples show the toxic algal bloom that has been impacting parts of the South Australian coast has now been detected in West Lakes. The toxic bloom has caused fish kills on the Fleurieu and Yorke peninsulas, Kangaroo Island and has recently also hit Adelaide's metropolitan beaches. Dead fish and sea animals have been spotted on the shore from Sellicks Beach to North Haven, raising concerns for both local residents and authorities. The Department for Environment and Water is now testing water from West Lakes and the Port River for the algae. In a statement, the department said it had confirmed the presence of Karenia mikimotoi, the species of algae first detected on the Fleurieu Peninsula in March, in low levels in West Lakes. The Port River is home to the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, which is regularly monitored by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The bloom has also been detected along the Spencer Gulf, Kangaroo Island, Troubridge Point on Yorke Peninsula, the Coorong's North Lagoon and along the coastline from Victor Harbor to Robe. The department said it was also testing a dolphin carcass that was collected from Tennyson Beach on Monday. It is also looking at a great white shark carcass from Port Broughton to determine if the bloom contributed to its death. The bloom's impact has hit metropolitan Adelaide beaches, with locals capturing images of dead sharks and sea lions. Scientists were hoping a drop in temperatures over winter would bring an end to the ecological disaster, which appeared after a range of environmental impacts hit the region, including water from the 2022/23 River Murray floods flowing into the Southern Ocean, followed by unseasonably cold and warm water. But on Monday, Environment Minister Susan Close said she wanted to "prepare people" that the bloom was "not something that is likely to pass quickly" and "likely also to return at some point". "We've seen the large mass of algae — the depth of some 20-metres and the size of Kangaroo Island — break up significantly," she said on Monday. "But what's happened, is a lot of it has just been moved around into other parts of South Australian waters, including the metropolitan coast. "This is of concern … because we're continuing to see marine life washing up dead on our coastline." The government said the bloom was unlikely to dissipate quickly because an "ongoing marine heatwave" was continuing off SA's south coast. Further complicating matters, Dr Close said, was that the species responsible for the bloom can drop to the seabed and survive if the conditions no longer suited it. The department said the bloom occurred naturally and nothing could be done to dilute or dissipate it. The bloom is considered non-toxic to humans, but can cause skin, eye and lung irritation.
ABC News
a day ago
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South Australia's harmful algal bloom outbreak unlikely to end soon, government warns
A damaging algal bloom off South Australia's coast that is killing marine life is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon, with the South Australian government warning there "isn't much we can do" to fix the problem. The toxic bloom, first detected in March off the Fleurieu Peninsula, has been plaguing South Australia's coastline in the past three months, responsible for discoloured water and foam and countless dead creatures that have washed up on shore. The bloom's impact has reached metropolitan Adelaide beaches, with locals capturing images of dead sharks and sea lions. Scientists were hoping that a drop in temperatures over winter would bring an end to the ecological disaster, which appeared after a range of environmental impacts hit the region, including water from the 2022/23 River Murray floods flowing into the Southern Ocean, followed by unseasonably cold and warm water. But Environment Minister Susan Close said despite ongoing storms and cooler temperatures, "we are seeing the algae being very persistent". She said she wanted to "prepare people" that the bloom was "not something that is likely to pass quickly" and "likely also to return at some point". "We've seen the large mass of algae — the depth of some 20-metres and the size of Kangaroo Island — break up significantly," she said on Monday. "But what's happened, is a lot of it has just been moved around into other parts of South Australian waters, including the metropolitan coast. "This is of concern … because we're continuing to see marine life washing up dead on our coastline." Satellite mapping of South Australia's coastline shows high levels of chlorophyll-a along the eastern side of Gulf St Vincent. While the mapping is an indicator of the likelihood of the presence of the bloom, Dr Close confirmed metropolitan Adelaide beaches were now bearing the brunt of the bloom. Asked if the government was prepared for this, Dr Close said some movement of the bloom was anticipated. "We were expecting that as the big winds came in and the waves started moving around more that it would move around," Dr Close said. "Therefore, we're not exempt in the metropolitan beaches, it wasn't surprising, but it's hard to predict exactly where the currents are going to take the bloom at any given time. "It may well be discovered at some point in the Port River. It may even make its way into West Lakes." The government believed the bloom was unlikely to dissipate quickly because an "ongoing marine heatwave" was continuing off SA's south coast. Further complicating matters, Dr Close said, was that the species responsible for the bloom, Karenia mikimotoi, can drop to the seabed and survive if the conditions no longer suited it. "What that means is we've got a lot of those dinoflagellates that will be dropping to the ocean floor because we've had such a large bloom," she said. After it was first reported around Waitpinga and Parsons beaches in March, the algal bloom spread to Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and the Coorong. The bloom is considered non-toxic to humans, but can cause skin, eye and lung irritation. Dr Close said the bloom was causing a "widespread number" of marine deaths and also putting "some of out most vulnerable and precious species … at risk". But she warned that there was not "much we can do" about the situation other than building nature's resilience and continued monitoring. "We can't control the movement of the Karenia mikimotoi bloom, that's dictated by the way in which the oceans move,' she said. "We can't kill it off — simply too much of it in too much of a large expanse of ocean. "And unless we're talking about aquaculture inside nets, we can't move animals. "We are helpless in the force of nature, and that is something that we as people need to understand our place in the natural world." Estuarine ecologist Faith Coleman, who has been helping coastal communities understand the algal bloom, said her primary concern was that the bloom was becoming 'more adaptable to the climate it's facing'. 'The challenge is if it doesn't clear out this winter, and we still have enough organic matter remaining in the water column, there is a high probability that we're going to have a bloom that restarts again next summer,' she said. 'That's a concern because the ecosystem has taken this hit, and getting another hit is likely for it to become an inter-annual or regular event.' Ms Coleman highlighted California, which has reportedly had algal blooms recur for four consecutive years, as an example. She said some blooms lasted weeks, some three-to-four months and some 18 months. 'I am deeply concerned that since we have passed that three-to-four-month point with this … that we are looking at a bloom that will now go for 18 months if it doesn't clear this winter,' she said.
7NEWS
a day ago
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Coastal threat set to stay as sea life continue to die on South Australian beaches
Initial hope of cold water dispersing the toxic algae bloom across South Australian coastlines has faded, with it proving resistant to recent storm surges. Marine life continues to die and wash up on beaches across Adelaide due to the bloom. In March, a notable foam — likened by some to the froth on a milkshake — and its effects were first noticed by surfers at Waitpinga, about 100km from Adelaide, with the EPA reporting the algae being the toxic micro-algae karenia mikimotoi. This comes two weeks after a strong storm surge drove the algae back up the Murray River at Goolwa, entering the Coorong through the Murray Mouth — where the river meets the Southern Ocean. It has since been found on beaches from Cape Jervis to Encounter Bay, with the algae now being reported on the western side of Adelaide's beaches. Locals have found hundreds of rarely seen sea creatures dead on the sand. There is no 'magic wand' to remove the algae from Adelaide coastlines, with the algae simply waiting on the sea floor until the water warms up again, Minister for Primary Industries and Regions Susan Close said on Monday. 'What we are experiencing is the effects of climate change, it is what happens when you have an ongoing marine heatwave off our coast,' Close said. 'We are forecasting over the next 12 months (for the reoccurrence of the algae).' More than 80 researches from both Adelaide and around the world are helping in research efforts to keep an eye on the algae and its effects on the marine life, Close said. The storms that were predicted to remove the toxic algae, have since proved to benefit it instead, with it now spreading further across SA coastlines. 'To storms and cooler temperatures, we are seeing the algae being very persistent in South Australian waters,' Close said. 'We've seen the large mass of algae, the depth of some 20 metres and the size of Kangaroo Island break up significantly. 'What has happened is a lot of it has just been moved around into other parts of South Australia waters, including the metropolitan coast. 'This is of concern because we are continuing to see marine life washing up on our coastline.' Human exposure, which includes breathing in algae particles, can cause respiratory and eye irritation or skin rashes in some people, while ingestion could cause stomach upsets or flu-like symptoms. The particles can become airborne and affect nearby beachside properties. In the meantime, PIRSA and SA Health have advised the public not to collect or eat any dead or dying fish or marine organisms found along the shore. To report unusual sightings of fish kills or affected marine life, residents are urged to contact FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522. Concerns about water quality can be reported to the EPA at 1800 623 445 or by emailing yourepa@
