Calls for South Australia's algal bloom to be declared national disaster, as 'algal war' erupts
Fishers have reported seeing what is believed to be a bioluminescent algae that is known to eat the Karenia mikimotoi algae species responsible for the mass fish kills over the past four months.
The Greens have called on the federal government to declare the bloom a national disaster because of its impact on coastal communities and businesses.
"The last calamari I caught was on Good Friday … and it's been a long time since," Fleurieu Peninsula squid fisherman Nathan Eatts told ABC Radio Adelaide.
But Mr Eatts is hopeful nature itself can be part of the solution, especially in light of what he saw while fishing on Sunday morning.
He said he was out on the water when he noticed it had changed colour.
"I followed it around for a bit. It was about a kilometre-and-a-half long by 30 metres wide.
"Early reports coming back off that, is that it's a 'sea sparkle' — a bioluminescent algae of sorts.
"Apparently that might potentially be eating the Karenia, the bad stuff."
Mr Eatts said he contacted authorities and carefully collected samples for citizen scientists.
Estuarine ecologist Faith Coleman said she had examined images of the samples and identified them as containing Noctiluca scintillans — the algae which causes "sea sparkle".
"We're starting to get sea sparkle blooms which are those algae that cause the phosphorescent blue waves at certain times of year," she said.
"What they do is they go round, they eat other bacteria and algae, and in this case it looks like they're probably eating Karenia mikimotoi.
"The sea sparkle … cleans up already dying blooms and it cleans them down to a point that they don't re-bloom again if they get the opportunity to.
"We're nowhere near that yet."
While Ms Coleman said it was "definitely way too early to say" the sea sparkle would spell the end of the toxic bloom, it was still a promising sign.
"Nature is assembling her soldiers on the ground and the sea sparkle is a major part of that.
"That's what it's trying to do — whether it succeeds of course is a different matter entirely."
South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the party, at both the state and federal level, is calling for inquiries into the 'environmental catastrophe'.
Senator Hanson-Young said she had written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking an urgent national response.
"We've urged the prime minister to declare this event a national disaster along the lines of what happens for floods and fires," Senator Hanson-Young said.
"Our communities are hurting, our industries are suffering and so far, the only government response is to get used to it."
Greens MLC Robert Simms said he m would move to launch a state-based enquiry into the bloom when parliament returns in late August.
"That's so that we can bring in the state government departments and scrutinise their approach to this crisis," Mr Simms said.
The prime minister's office has been contacted for a response.
Diver Mark Tozer has been visiting the shipwreck of The Claris, a popular scuba site around eight kilometres off Glenelg Beach, for the past 30 years.
He said the site was normally teeming with marine life and coral and was devastated when he visited the site last week.
"On the way down it was green and was full of algae just floating through the water column and by the time you got to the bottom you could hardly see your hand, it was nasty," he said.
"Littered all over the floor were dead sea cucumbers, there was clams and molluscs just open, dead, gone … it was a death zone."
Mr Tozer said he was surprised to see the far-reaching extent of the bloom and felt concern for the future of the diving industry and local bait and tackle shops.
"The government needs to step in and understand these poor people who own a business … this is out of their hands," he said.
"Who would want to buy a boat in South Australia now?"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
18 hours ago
- ABC News
Calls for South Australia's algal bloom to be declared national disaster, as 'algal war' erupts
An ecologist says an "algal war" that has broken out along South Australia's south coast could be a sign that the tide is slowly turning against the state's toxic bloom, which the Greens want treated as a national disaster. Fishers have reported seeing what is believed to be a bioluminescent algae that is known to eat the Karenia mikimotoi algae species responsible for the mass fish kills over the past four months. The Greens have called on the federal government to declare the bloom a national disaster because of its impact on coastal communities and businesses. "The last calamari I caught was on Good Friday … and it's been a long time since," Fleurieu Peninsula squid fisherman Nathan Eatts told ABC Radio Adelaide. But Mr Eatts is hopeful nature itself can be part of the solution, especially in light of what he saw while fishing on Sunday morning. He said he was out on the water when he noticed it had changed colour. "I followed it around for a bit. It was about a kilometre-and-a-half long by 30 metres wide. "Early reports coming back off that, is that it's a 'sea sparkle' — a bioluminescent algae of sorts. "Apparently that might potentially be eating the Karenia, the bad stuff." Mr Eatts said he contacted authorities and carefully collected samples for citizen scientists. Estuarine ecologist Faith Coleman said she had examined images of the samples and identified them as containing Noctiluca scintillans — the algae which causes "sea sparkle". "We're starting to get sea sparkle blooms which are those algae that cause the phosphorescent blue waves at certain times of year," she said. "What they do is they go round, they eat other bacteria and algae, and in this case it looks like they're probably eating Karenia mikimotoi. "The sea sparkle … cleans up already dying blooms and it cleans them down to a point that they don't re-bloom again if they get the opportunity to. "We're nowhere near that yet." While Ms Coleman said it was "definitely way too early to say" the sea sparkle would spell the end of the toxic bloom, it was still a promising sign. "Nature is assembling her soldiers on the ground and the sea sparkle is a major part of that. "That's what it's trying to do — whether it succeeds of course is a different matter entirely." South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the party, at both the state and federal level, is calling for inquiries into the 'environmental catastrophe'. Senator Hanson-Young said she had written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking an urgent national response. "We've urged the prime minister to declare this event a national disaster along the lines of what happens for floods and fires," Senator Hanson-Young said. "Our communities are hurting, our industries are suffering and so far, the only government response is to get used to it." Greens MLC Robert Simms said he m would move to launch a state-based enquiry into the bloom when parliament returns in late August. "That's so that we can bring in the state government departments and scrutinise their approach to this crisis," Mr Simms said. The prime minister's office has been contacted for a response. Diver Mark Tozer has been visiting the shipwreck of The Claris, a popular scuba site around eight kilometres off Glenelg Beach, for the past 30 years. He said the site was normally teeming with marine life and coral and was devastated when he visited the site last week. "On the way down it was green and was full of algae just floating through the water column and by the time you got to the bottom you could hardly see your hand, it was nasty," he said. "Littered all over the floor were dead sea cucumbers, there was clams and molluscs just open, dead, gone … it was a death zone." Mr Tozer said he was surprised to see the far-reaching extent of the bloom and felt concern for the future of the diving industry and local bait and tackle shops. "The government needs to step in and understand these poor people who own a business … this is out of their hands," he said. "Who would want to buy a boat in South Australia now?"
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Powerful winds to batter Australia's southern states for days
Severe weather warnings have been issued across Australia as the Bureau of Meteorology warns of damaging winds in the week ahead. A cold front is making its way across the country starting in Western Australia, and it is due to batter South Australia, NSW, the ACT and Victoria in the coming days. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines warned the front is 'bringing damaging wind gusts today for southwestern parts of the country, then in the coming few days for other areas as well'. 'This thing is moving really, really quickly,' Mr Hines said. 'We're going to see rain and wind pick up across South Australia overnight, tonight through the early hours of Tuesday morning.' Mr Hines said there would be some rainfall but warned 'it is really the wind that I want to hammer home'. He said that travel and transport delays looked likely both for air and ground travel. There is also potential for dangerous driving conditions, particularly for tall vehicles. In Western Australia, damaging winds will hit people in the Lower West, South West, South Coastal, South East Coastal, Great Southern and parts of Goldfields, Central Wheat Belt and Central West districts. The gusts will peak on Monday afternoon at about 100km/h and may persist into Tuesday morning. It is the windiest front of the year so far in the western state. In South Australia, a warning has been issued for people in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island and parts of Lower Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, Lower South East and North East Pastoral districts. The damaging winds will hit on Tuesday morning before easing by the afternoon. Atop the Mount Lofty Ranges peak gusts of up to 100km/h are expected. The ACT and NSW are set to be lashed by a cold front late on Tuesday and early on Wednesday, with isolated gusts of up to 110km/h expected in the region's alpine peaks. Blizzards are likely across the western Snowy Mountains, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has recommended that back country travel be postponed until conditions improve. Warnings in the region have been issued for people in the Illawarra, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, ACT and South West Slopes forecast districts. Victoria looks likely to face severe winds on Tuesday, with alpine areas also set to face blizzard conditions. Damaging winds warnings are in place for people in parts of the Central, East Gippsland, South West, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and Wimmera forecast districts. People in affected areas have been warned to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure loose outdoor furniture and items, and to stay indoors when the wind hits.
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Disaster': Senator's desperate plea to PM
The Greens are demanding a national response to the rolling waves of toxic algae bloom washing up along South Australia's coastline, calling on Anthony Albanese to declare the event a national disaster. On Monday, Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young, from South Australia, said she had written to the Prime Minister for more support to address the unfolding environmental catastrophe, which has killed and polluted marine wildlife and produced discoloured water and foam along vast stretches of the state. 'For months, the coastline in South Australia has been under attack by a toxic algal bloom,' she said. 'So far, most of the response has been led by the local community without any formal government support. 'I have written to the Prime Minister because South Australians cannot be left to deal with this environmental disaster on our own. 'If there were dead fish washing up on Bondi Beach every day, there would be a national outcry and response. 'South Australians deserve the same support from our federal government that east coast states would demand.' The toxic algae bloom is killing marine wildlife along South Australia's coastline. Supplied Credit: Supplied Scientists believe the bloom has been caused by a marine heatwave. Supplied Credit: Supplied The toxic bloom was likely caused by three interconnected factors, the South Australian Department for Environment and Water said. First, a marine heatwave, starting in September 2024, has warmed sea temperatures about 2.5C more than normal. Second, the 2022-23 River Murray floods washed extra nutrients into the sea, and third, a cold water upwelling in the summer of 2023-24 pulled nutrient-rich water to the surface. The bloom could last for months, the department warned. It does not produce long-term harm to humans, though it can cause short-term skin or eye irritation, but it is having a devastating economic impact on the state's $500m fisheries industry. Senator Hanson-Young wants state and federal inquiries into the phenomenon and a federal support package to alleviate losses. South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is calling for a national support package to help affected industries. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'Our tourism industry is already reporting mass cancellations because of people deciding not to travel and stay on the South Australian coast,' she said. 'Our industries are being crippled by this climate crisis. They need support from the government and they need it now.' Senator Hanson-Young also took aim at the 'fossil fuel industry' and argued it was responsible for the bloom. 'The climate crisis is here and it is here before our very eyes and it is creating an environmental catastrophe,' she said. 'What we need is to stop making the problem worse and to start investing in mitigation and adaptation strategies. 'Sitting on our hands and hoping it will all just wash away is not realistic. 'That's why we need a federal and state push for an inquiry … and we need to make sure there is support for industry who are going to have to struggle while this bloom sticks around.' The Coalition has flagged its support for a parliamentary inquiry into the event. Environment Minister Murray Watt has been contacted for comment.
