Latest news with #SouthAustralianGovernment
Sky News AU
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Sky News AU
Sky News Weather breaks down South Australia's marine crisis, as harmful algal bloom changes course and moves towards Adelaide beaches
The deadly algal bloom floating in South Australian waters - causing masses of dead fish and rays to wash up on local beaches - has reached Adelaide after a change in weather conditions. The bloom, which has been attributed to unusually dry and warm conditions over the state earlier this year, was first identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March. The arrival of cold and windy weather has failed to quell the worsening outbreak, and only shifted its focus to other parts of the state. Sky News Weather has broken down the meteorological drivers that have most contributed to the crisis, including rising sea surface temperatures and dry, warm weather that has taken hold in Australia's south at the start of this year. What is an algal bloom? It is a naturally occurring microalgae known as Karenia mikimotoi. The species is not known to cause long-term health effects in humans, but swimmers and surfers have reported rashes and stinging eyes after entering the water. The HAB (harmful algal bloom) is causing serious concern for fisheries, as well as the oyster and pipis industry, as dead sea life including fish, sharks and rays wash up on beaches. The bloom is the first HAB for the region since an event in 2014, which developed around the Coffin Bay area. What caused the bloom in the first place? According to the South Australian Government, experts have identified three plausible influences: Firstly, a prolonged marine heatwave led to near record ocean heat off the SA coast from September 2024 to this May. Sea surface temperatures were 2.5C above normal over this extended period – not only offshore, but also within the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent. Secondly, there was unusually dry and warm weather over the same period. Large parts of south Australia's southern regions have suffered through the driest January – May period on record this year, as high pressure systems blocked the passage of cool season frontal rain until early winter. Thirdly – the oceans of south Australia are very nutrient rich. Outflows of floodwater from the Murray River (a result of the 2022/2023 floods) carry high levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and iron. These factors turned south Australian waters into an optimal nesting ground for the HAB. Algae feed by photosynthesis (sunlight) and need warm, nutrient-rich water to grow. According to the SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions, predicting the duration of this HAB is difficult. They can last for weeks to months. Changing environmental conditions are believed to be the key to ending the HAB. It makes sense at first thought – get rid of the sunshine, warmth and nutrients, and the species would now be in an unhabitable environment. This has not been the case. During June, frequent cold fronts brought welcome rain for South Australian farmers. The weather events also brought strong gales, rough seas and abnormally high tides to the state's coastline. Ocean temperatures cooled and the top layer of the oceans (where the algae lives) was mixed considerably. The latest information from SA government surveys suggest that the weather shift dispersed some of the bloom but also moved it to impact other areas – including closer to Adelaide's beaches. It is unknown when the HAB will completely clear. One last question worth asking is – could this event be attributed to climate change? Another question to follow – could our planet's oceans see more HAB events than ever before due to climate change? If we consider the warm, calm and dry conditions which led to this HAB, Australia's changing climate can certainly be a factor, especially in southern waters. Climate change is reducing the likelihood of cool season cold fronts whilst increasing the prevalence of calmer high-pressure system over the nation's south. This has led to a decrease of about nine per cent in cool season rainfall since 1994. Ocean warming is also a direct result of climate change. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases traps heat in the atmosphere, and a substantial part of this excess heat is absorbed by the oceans. For the latest weather outlooks and climate forecasts be sure to tune into Sky News Weather Channel 601 on Foxtel
7NEWS
04-07-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Humble ham sandwich back on the menu amid South Australia's junk food advertising ban
Claims that 'healthy' foods would be included in a state government's ban on junk food advertising have been dismissed. The South Australian Government said its advertising ban — which came into force on government-owned public transport on Tuesday — targeted processed meats, chocolate, lollies, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips in a bid to curb childhood obesity. However, there were claims that 'healthy' foods — such as rice crackers, soy milk and even the humble ham sandwich — would fall victim to the advertising ban, according to a report by Newscorp. Australian Association of National Advertisers CEO Josh Faulks told the outlet the ban was confusing. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure,' Faulks said. SA Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton has said the ban only targeted highly processed foods containing high fat, high salt and high sugar. 'South Australia has become the second place in the country to no longer put junk food ads on our public transport,' Picton told 'We need to take action against junk food because the obesity crisis has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of preventable disease.' Picton accused the AANA of trying to undermine the advertising ban. 'Unfortunately the advertising industry lobbyists have opposed these junk food restrictions from the beginning,' he said. 'Because they can't win the actual argument about junk food advertising they are concocting spurious click-bait hypotheticals instead. 'The SA Government will continue to take public health advice from the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation and not advertising industry lobbyists.' SA Health said the foods targeted by the advertising ban are set out by Council of Australian Governments Health Council's National interim guide to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink promotion, and based on Australian dietary guidelines. It includes sweetened drinks such as fruit and vegetable juice with added sugars along with soft drinks, confectionery; fatty, sugary or salted snack foods; and prepackaged unhealthy meals including many fast foods. understands products such as soy milk and rice crackers can still be advertised as long as they do not contain additives such as sugars. Preventive Health SA data reveals 66 per cent of South Australian adults and 37.1 per cent of children are overweight or living with obesity, which can put people at greater risk of many diseases and health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. South Australia has the nation's highest rate of diabetes. The AANA had told the government's ban was confusing and claimed it was 'effectively discouraging people from consuming what are widely considered to be nutritious core foods'. 'We fully support measures that encourage healthier choices but the implementation of these policies must be based on credible, evidence-based criteria,' Faulks told the outlet. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure. This list should be science-based, objective and create certainty for business, not create more confusion.'
The Guardian
25-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Quoll and possum species brought back from local extinction in the Ikara-Flinders ranges
Ten years after the reintroduction of western quolls and brushtail possums into the Ikara-Flinders Ranges national park, rangers say populations of the once-locally extinct mammals are flourishing. In a joint effort between Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species and the South Australian government, the animals live in 'safer havens' in the park where predator numbers have been reduced
