Latest news with #Ardrossan
ABC News
12-07-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Algal bloom fears grow as video shows dead fish in 'neon green' waters near Ardrossan
New vision of South Australia's toxic algal bloom shows scores of dead fish lying in "dark neon green" waters, highlighting the extent of the ecological disaster unfolding underwater. Warning: Readers are advised this article includes content some may find confronting. Marine scientist and filmmaker Stefan Andrews, who captured the footage near the Ardrossan jetty on SA's Yorke Peninsula, said he saw "hundreds, if not thousands" of fish — mostly garfish — strewn across the seabed. Mr Andrews filmed the vision on Wednesday after marine life began washing up on the Yorke Peninsula coast around two weeks earlier. He said among the dead were wobbegong sharks and stingrays. "As soon as I put my head in the water and got a couple of metres from the bottom, I could see dead fish everywhere," Mr Andrews said. "We've seen so many stingrays washing up on the shore, but we just don't really have any idea how many of these stingrays are just laying on the bottom decomposing away. "So within relatively short distance there were hundreds of marine mortalities down there, which is pretty disturbing." Mr Andrews said the waters around Ardrossan had turned "deep dark neon green" despite being "relatively clear" up until recently. He said that while there was a large concentration of marine mortalities clustered around the Ardrossan jetty, fishers have reported garfish deaths 10 kilometres up the coast. The underwater footage shows fish gasping for oxygen, a brittle star with a hole pierced through its body, dead stingrays, dying abalone and garfish in pieces. Regarding the cuts observed on some fish, Mr Andrews said the leading theory locally is that birds were feeding on the dying garfish. 'What this may be is fish that were dying and birds were smashing them and maybe that's what led to them being bit in half," he said. "I'm just speculating here, but we've seen so many bizarre, strange things in our oceans at the moment." A spokesperson for SA's Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) said it tested the waters around Ardrossan following reports of the garfish deaths. That testing, PIRSA said, confirmed the presence of Karenia mikimotoi, the species responsible for the toxic algal bloom that has been choking the state's coastlines since March. "Based on the available information it is currently determined that [Thursday's] fish kill event is likely the result of the harmful algal bloom," the spokesperson said in a statement. The scenes of ravaged marine life off the Yorke Peninsula are the latest in what Mr Andrews described as a "catastrophic event that's occurring over such a huge part of the state's coastal waters". Mr Andrews, founder of an education and research not-for-profit called Great Southern Reef Foundation, wanted the algal bloom to be declared a "national emergency". The toxic bloom was first detected in March off the Fleurieu Peninsula and has since grown to a size comparable with Kangaroo Island. Authorities estimate it has caused tens of thousands of individual animals to wash up dead on the state's beaches. The bloom has been detected along the Spencer Gulf, Kangaroo Island, the Coorong's North Lagoon and along the coastline from Victor Harbor to Robe. It's also been picked up at Troubridge Point on Yorke Peninsula, more than 80km south of the Ardrossan jetty. Earlier this month, the bloom was detected in metropolitan Adelaide at West Lakes and the Port River. The bloom is considered non-toxic to humans, but can cause skin, eye and lung irritation. The Ardrossan footage was published online amid growing concerns about the impact of the bloom on SA's fishing industry. Calamari stocks along the Yorke Peninsula have been decimated ahead of breeding season, according to Michael Pennington, a commercial fisher based in Ardrossan. Mr Pennington said he has not been able to fish for a month while other commercial fishers have been out of action for up to three months. "It's pretty hard sitting at home on flat calm days where you should be at work and catching a few fish to put food on the table," he said. Citing catch records filed with authorities, Mr Pennington said only 7 kilograms of calamari has been fished from Gulf St Vincent over the last four weeks. In a normal year, this four-week period would typically yield between 9 and 12 tonnes, he said. "So, next season, that's just a complete write off. "I honestly do not know how many years this could take to get a calamari fishery back in Gulf St Vincent — it's pretty well non-existent now." Mr Pennington said he wants the bloom to be declared a national disaster "before it's too late". "Tourism and fishing go hand in hand over here … that's why people come to the Yorke Peninsula. "We've got no help … and it's getting to the point where we will see businesses shutting doors very shortly." The state government on Tuesday announced a $500,000 initial relief package for fishers affected by the algal bloom, allowing them to have certain licence and audit fees waived. Acting SA Premier Susan Close has left the door open to increasing the state government's relief package. "This is an unfolding challenge, so we've stepped in and offered immediate relief," she said on Saturday. "But we recognise that depending on how this bloom goes, we may well have to look at further assistance."
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Footage captured 55 days apart show devastating impact of algal bloom
Two videos captured 55 days apart by a diver show the devastating impact of the algal bloom near Ardrossan in SA's Yorke Peninsula.
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Billy Gilmour parties with mystery blonde on cosy yacht trip in Spain
Billy Gilmour has been spotted soaking up the spanish sunshine on a luxurious yacht with a mystery lady as he enjoys a summer break away from the pitch Billy Gilmour has been photographed partying on a luxurious private yacht on the Spanish island of Formentera with a group of mystery women. The Scots footballer, 24, who plays as a defensive midfielder for SSC Napoli, was seen cosying up to an unknown blonde woman while he soaked up the Spanish sunshine alongside Crystal Palace FC defender pal Ben Chilwell, 28. Gilmour had a successful season, playing a leading role in winning Napoli's 4th Serie A title after a 2-0 home victory over Cagliari last month meanwhile Chilwell, 28, is currently on loan after being out of favour for his side Chelsea. The pair are now enjoying a summer break away from the pitch as they enjoyed their day out at sea on their Spanish vacation. Ardrossan born star Gilmour was snapped shirtless in a pair of green shorts and was seen getting close to a blonde woman in a black bikini. Gilmour and the mystery lady were seen smiling and laughing at they rode a jet ski together with the footballer in the driver's seat. The Napoli star was also snapped diving into the sea during their fun-packed yacht trip and even showed off his cheeky side with a glimpse of his bottom as he climbed up onto the yacht ladder from the sea with his shorts hanging down at his thighs. Gilmour and Chilwell were joined by three other women on the yacht in their swimwear with the on loan player from Chelsea seen hugging an unknown brunette.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- BBC News
Return of MV Caledonian Isles on Arran route delayed again over pressure issue
Ferry operator CalMac has said it is "impossible to say" how long a ferry serving Arran will remain out of action due to a pressure Caledonian Isles has been unable to carry passengers since January 2024 due to a series of faults that have cost nearly £11m to 32-year-old ship had been due to resume sailings from Ardrossan to Arran last week but sea trials revealed a problem with the ship's operator said the ship would return to dry dock in the next week to resolve a pressure issue with the vessel's propulsion system. CalMac said it was unable to confirm a return to service date until an inspection takes place, but sailings from Troon would still be available in the meantime with a two-vessel service of MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred. MV Caledonian Isles was initially taken out of service in January last year after routine annual maintenance revealed serious steel ship underwent months of major repair work in dry dock at Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside, which required removal of the ship's the ship returned to Scotland in September, a gearbox and propeller fault were investigation at Dale's Marine in Greenock revealed the rear of the ship was had been due to return to the Arran route by the end of April, but this was repeatedly pushed back and the ship was expected to return to service last week. Ferry service update The state-owned operator's chief executive officer Duncan Mackison said: "Everyone at CalMac is disappointed that MV Caledonian Isles isn't ready to carry passengers yet, and I know that disappointment will be shared by communities across our network and by those who travel to and from Arran regularly."He said the inspection of the vessel would take a few days and until then, it was "impossible" to determine how long repairs might Mackison added: "But there is a range of possible scenarios going from the issue being resolved in a few days to it taking significantly longer. "To give communities and customers certainty, we're removing MV Caledonian Isles from deployment plans for now and will provide a detailed update on any service impact early next week."When it returns to service, MV Caledonian Isles will run from Ardrossan, the only ferry in the vicinity able to do so since the long-awaited MV Glen Sannox and its yet-to-be-delivered sister ship are too big to dock at the passengers heading to Arran have to board the replacement ferries at Scottish government is investigating potentially buying the port at Ardrossan to make the necessary changes to allow both newer vessels to berth there, but talks are reported to have stalled.
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Super Seth steps into New Zealand's elite stallion ranks
'Three Group 1 winners across two countries in a month is freakish, and he keeps backing up with transtasman winners every single week.' Super Seth's season could not have come at a better time as the stud's phenomenal Savabeel nears the end of his breeding career but the legend showed he isn't willling to give up the top dog title just yet. Savabeel will remain New Zealand's only six-figure stallion, standing at an unchanged $100,000, plus GST. Sitting $2.7 million clear of his nearest contender on the New Zealand sires' premiership, Savabeel will secure his 10th New Zealand champion sires' title and will be inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in May. This season alone he has sired three Group 1 winners: Atishu, who claimed her third elite-level victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes, along with two new Group 1 winners in Savaglee and Provence, bringing his Group 1 tally to 35. This year, Savabeel produced his highest-priced yearling yet and set a new record for the highest-priced filly ever sold at Karaka – $2.4 million for the full sister to Orchestral. 'He deserves every accolade and we are very proud of everything he's done and is doing for the New Zealand industry,' said Chittick. 'He has great vitality and we're heading into the season with a bright, happy and healthy horse – the only thing we will avoid breeding this year at his age is maidens. He's had another incredible season on the track and in the sales ring, and he just keeps reminding us why he's so special.' Waikato Stud will also stand Ardrossan ($20,000), Noverre ($10,000) and Banquo ($3000) at unchanged fees next season while the ever-consistent Ocean Park will stand at a slightly reduced of $15,000, all fees being plus GST. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald
