Latest news with #DepartmentForEnvironmentAndWater
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Climate
- 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.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
The sad reason dead great white shark washed up on popular beach
Locals in a coastal South Australian town gathered in horror around the carcass of a great white shark that is believed to be the latest victim of a killer algae. Since mid-March, hundreds of fish, sharks, rays, and other marine life have been affected by Karenia mikimotoi algae along the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas and Kangaroo Island, south of Adelaide. The toxic algae is microscopic and known for its harmful blooms which can also cause illness and irritation in humans. Months after it first emerged, residents along the coast continue to be shocked by the ongoing crisis in the waters. Community Facebook page Shark Watch South Australia shared photos and videos of a dead female great white, which was found washed up on the shore on Friday. A fisheries officer could be seen raising the fish, thought to be roughly 3.7m in length, onto a trailer in Port Broughton, roughly 170 km northwest of Adelaide. A crowd of adults and children could be seen in footage looking down on the deceased shark, prodding its sharp teeth. Locals took to the comments section of the Facebook post to share their upset over the death of the shark. One user called the loss 'devastating' while others said the death was 'such a shame'. A third said: 'This is absolutely heartbreaking. We have somehow managed to suffocate all the marine life in South Australia.' The SA Government's Department for Environment and Water confirmed on Saturday the algal bloom has affected various marine wildlife. The last large event of this type of algae recorded in South Australia was at Coffin Bay in 2014. 'It is a major concern that it could keep happening every warm season,' Dr Christopher Keneally told Daily Mail Australia. The microbial ecologist, who is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide, explained there is a risk of the bloom creating a cycle in Australian waters. 'As we start to see this bloom wrap up, we're worried that what we're going to see is some of these cells sink into the sediment and lay dormant until next summer. 'So, potentially, we might see this go on continuously, or even stop and then come back next summer, and maybe continue year on year.' Dr Keneally added the news that marine life was washing up on metropolitan beaches, like at Port Broughton, would help raise awareness. 'It's really concerning (and) it makes the issue a little bit more acute,' the ecologist said. '(It means there is) a little bit more knowledge and publicity about it, so something can be done and we can fix it faster.' Dr Keneally highlighted this is a global issue related to climate change and higher sea surface temperatures. 'What does fixing it look like? It's the same as a bush fire,' he said. 'All you can do is prepare and forecast and look towards the future and then maybe try and fix the issues around fuel and temperature on a broader scale, globally.' The Department for Environment and Water has said nothing can be done to dilute or dissipate the bloom. Government agencies are monitoring the situation. Signs are in place at public entry points to affected beaches and national parks. Beaches remain open.
ABC News
21-06-2025
- ABC News
Visitors still walking on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre months after foot traffic ban
Visitors to Australia's largest salt lake are continuing to walk on the lake-bed months after new rules came into effect that limited recreational access. The usually-dry Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is flooding in what some locals expect to be the most substantial fill in decades. It is also the first fill since a new management plan was adopted, which bans visitors from walking on the lake-bed and reinforces restrictions on driving and boating on the lake. ABC News visited Halligan Bay Campground on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre's south-western shore and witnessed several groups of visitors walking on the lake. The ABC did not see any signage advising visitors of the changed rules. An old sign that directed visitors to walk within 100 metres of the lake shore had been blacked out with tape by a local. A spokesperson for the Department For Environment and Water said signage would be installed at the site soon. "New visitor infrastructure, including interpretive signage, will soon be installed at locations such as the Halligan Bay Point Campground to ensure visitors are aware of new restrictions to accessing the lake bed," the spokesperson said. "Due to National Parks and Wildlife Service staff resources being required to assist the flood response at Innamincka and the re-opening of Witjira National Park, temporary signage advising visitors of the new restrictions has not been able to be installed to date." Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre was declared a national park in 1985 — a development that ensured the site was subject to various protections under South Australian law. According to the SA government, recreational activities "including swimming, driving off designated tracks, boating and landing aircraft" were restricted as a result of the national park declaration. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a sacred site for the Arabana people, who were granted native title over land covering most of the lake in 2012. The Arabana people co-manage the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Lake Eyre or Kati Thanda is our home," Arabana Aboriginal Corporation director Colleen Raven Strangways said. "This is where my ancestors walked for over 65,000 years, this is where my ancestors lived, camped, had families. According to the current management plan for the national park, the 2012 native title determination gave "Arabana people certainty, and a major influence on what happens on their land". "Native title rights enable Arabana people to hunt and camp on their lands. They also have the right to negotiate with companies regarding any mining activities on their Country," the plan states. "It gives legal acknowledgement of what they have always known: this is Arabana Country." Arabana say their ancestors and spiritual beings live on the lake and it is where they get their law and spiritual learnings from. They wanted to limit foot and vehicle traffic to protect the lake-bed and surrounding ecosystem. "We don't want boating on there, we don't want people walking on there because when you walk on that lake, it stays there until the next big flood," Ms Strangways said. "It stays there, it doesn't go away … the ecosystem is so fragile and so important to the health of that lake and to the health of its people, my people, the Arabana people. "We want you to come, enjoy it, but show respect." National Parks and Wildlife district ranger, Travis Gotch, said restricting boating on the lake during floods will also protect wildlife. "We've got a number of birds obviously breeding on the islands, they're there because they don't want to be disturbed," Mr Gotch said. "You've got birds that are flying all the way from Siberia to undertake a major breeding event that are listed as endangered globally … they don't want to be being bothered and we're trying to keep that sustained for them and protected as well." Additionally, the Arabana and National Parks and Wildlife Service say walking, driving and boating on the lake is a safety issue. The vast size of the lake-bed and lack of mobile coverage means once visitors lose sight of land, there is no way to orient themselves. "It's a safety issue and we're responsible as Arabana people, we are responsible for you when you're on our country," Ms Strangways said. Lake Eyre Yacht Club members sail on usually-dry rivers and lakes in the outback during rare moments they are flooded with water. The club's commodore Bob Backway has been an outspoken critic of limiting walking and boating activities on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Mr Backway says members adhere to rules to protect the wildlife and environment. "Lake Eyre is a sacred spot for all Australians, it's a very big bird breeding ground, we don't want it to be environmentally destroyed," he said. The Arabana Aboriginal Corporation says they want people to visit Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, but to do so in a mindful way. "We're not stopping people from coming, we invite people to come, we want you to," Ms Strangways said. "We want people to enjoy it just as much as us, however, we are asking people not to go onto the lake. Mr Backway would not be drawn on whether the yacht club had plans to sail on the lake once floodwaters had reached an appropriate level. He did question the ability of National Parks and Wildlife Service to police the restrictions on the lake-bed. "I can't imagine a ranger walking onto the beach at Halligan Point and ordering 100 people off a beach," Mr Backway said. Mr Gotch said the service would be monitoring activity on the lake ahead of the fill. "There are expiations for people on the lake, for boating on the lake, and where people are caught, it will be enforced and there's further penalties as well for further non-compliance," he said.
