Latest news with #algalBloom
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fisherman's sad admission highlights growing Aussie problem
An Aussie angler has made a difficult admission: he hasn't caught a single squid since April. Nathan Eatts, a sixth-generation commercial fisherman, is increasingly worried he'll be the last in his family to carry on the trade, because a toxic algal bloom is killing all the fish in waters around Adelaide. 'Fishing is all I've ever done, since I could walk. My dad was a commercial fisherman and he used to take me out as a kid. My grandpa and uncle did the same. It's in our blood,' the 32-year-old told Yahoo News. A perfect storm has killed sharks, rays and other marine life across the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula where he's traditionally fished, and the squid have disappeared. The outbreak is being caused by naturally occurring Karenia mikimotoi algae mixed with higher than average nutrients in the sea, increased ocean temperatures, and calm weather. It had been hoped that cooler weather during winter would break up the bloom, but instead it's continued to spread. The problem is occurring right across the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island, and this week it's been detected on metropolitan beaches and West Lakes in Adelaide's north. Nathan is in a similar situation to farmers during the Millenium Drought which crippled agriculture across large parts of NSW and Queensland last decade. He's just trying to keep busy and carry on the only trade he knows. 'There are some species we can target like whiting, but we'll only get a dozen or so, which is not enough to make a living off,' he said. 'When it's a nice day and it's calm I go fishing. If we do catch a few that's good, and if we don't it's just like every other day. Worst case, I've got just enough for my own dinner.' What Nathan wants now is to be part of the solution. He wants to know if all of the squid have died, or if they've migrated elsewhere. "It's like a massive bushfire but it's under the ocean and we can't see the full scale of it," he said. He's not the only one wanting to help. Fisherman are normally secretive about their catch, but now they're sharing intelligence with each other out of care for the industry. Shark's worrying behaviour near Aussie coastline signals 'never seen' crisis Fisherman shocked by 'unfathomable' scene at Aussie beaches Investigation launched after rarely-seen shark washes up on Aussie beach As the situation continues, there are growing calls for it to be declared a national disaster. Part of the reason is that bills are stacking up, and that's an issue Nathan is experiencing as well. 'We have very high costs in our industry. I personally just got a $13,000 yearly bill from fisheries, but if I can't catch any fish how am I supposed to pay it?' he said. 'It's quite stressful, I've got a mortgage too.' But the bigger issue for him is the environmental toll it's taking on the ocean he loves. 'A healthy marine ecosystem means a healthy, viable business. Sustainability is one of my key values, and it's why my family has been able to fish for six generations,' Nathan said. 'We don't use nets, everything we do is line caught. We're all about promoting longevity.' Prior to the algal bloom, Nathan would catch between 20 and 30kg of squid on an average day. But after a four-day storm over Easter, the oceans died. The last squid he caught was on Good Friday. 'All of a sudden we couldn't catch a single thing. The water was all green. It was clear something was wrong,' he said. Being a smart businessman, Nathan had prepared for a rainy day, and had a freezer full of filleted reserve stocks. But after months without a catch, he's close to running out of supply. 'There's no way of replenishing it. I'm not worried about right now, it's where we're going to be in three or four months time,' he said. 'That's when it's going to hit home for a lot of people. When bad things happen it's always down the track a little bit when the real pain starts.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fisherman's sad admission amid calls to declare natural disaster off Aussie coast
An Aussie angler has made a difficult admission: he hasn't caught a single squid since April. Nathan Eatts, a sixth-generation commercial fisherman, is increasingly worried he'll be the last in his family to carry on the trade, because a toxic algal bloom is killing all the fish in waters around Adelaide. 'Fishing is all I've ever done, since I could walk. My dad was a commercial fisherman and he used to take me out as a kid. My grandpa and uncle did the same. It's in our blood,' the 32-year-old told Yahoo News. A perfect storm has killed sharks, rays and other marine life across the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula where he's traditionally fished, and the squid have disappeared. The outbreak is being caused by naturally occurring Karenia mikimotoi algae mixed with higher than average nutrients in the sea, increased ocean temperatures, and calm weather. It had been hoped that cooler weather during winter would break up the bloom, but instead it's continued to spread. The problem is occurring right across the Fleurieu and Yorke Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island, and this week it's been detected on metropolitan beaches and West Lakes in Adelaide's north. Nathan is in a similar situation to farmers during the Millenium Drought which crippled agriculture across large parts of NSW and Queensland last decade. He's just trying to keep busy and carry on the only trade he knows. 'There are some species we can target like whiting, but we'll only get a dozen or so, which is not enough to make a living off,' he said. 'When it's a nice day and it's calm I go fishing. If we do catch a few that's good, and if we don't it's just like every other day. Worst case, I've got just enough for my own dinner.' What Nathan wants now is to be part of the solution. He wants to know if all of the squid have died, or if they've migrated elsewhere. "It's like a massive bushfire but it's under the ocean and we can't see the full scale of it," he said. He's not the only one wanting to help. Fisherman are normally secretive about their catch, but now they're sharing intelligence with each other out of care for the industry. Shark's worrying behaviour near Aussie coastline signals 'never seen' crisis Fisherman shocked by 'unfathomable' scene at Aussie beaches Investigation launched after rarely-seen shark washes up on Aussie beach As the situation continues, there are growing calls for it to be declared a natural disaster. Part of the reason is that bills are stacking up, and that's an issue Nathan is experiencing as well. 'We have very high costs in our industry. I personally just got a $13,000 yearly bill from fisheries, but if I can't catch any fish how am I supposed to pay it?' he said. 'It's quite stressful, I've got a mortgage too.' But the bigger issue for him is the environmental toll it's taking on the ocean he loves. 'A healthy marine ecosystem means a healthy, viable business. Sustainability is one of my key values, and it's why my family has been able to fish for six generations,' Nathan said. 'We don't use nets, everything we do is line caught. We're all about promoting longevity.' Prior to the algal bloom, Nathan would catch between 20 and 30kg of squid on an average day. But after a four-day storm over Easter, the oceans died. The last squid he caught was on Good Friday. 'All of a sudden we couldn't catch a single thing. The water was all green. It was clear something was wrong,' he said. Being a smart businessman, Nathan had prepared for a rainy day, and had a freezer full of filleted reserve stocks. But after months without a catch, he's close to running out of supply. 'There's no way of replenishing it. I'm not worried about right now, it's where we're going to be in three or four months time,' he said. 'That's when it's going to hit home for a lot of people. When bad things happen it's always down the track a little bit when the real pain starts.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
08-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Dead little penguins washed up on multiple Eyre Peninsula beaches
Dead penguins have been found washed up on beaches in the Eyre Peninsula, prompting concerns from locals. Other dead marine life has appeared on South Australian beaches in recent months as a result of a toxic algal bloom. The Department of Environment and Water (DEW) said it was unclear if the new penguin deaths were linked to the ongoing microalgae bloom Karenia mikimotoi. Krista Eleftherieu, who grew up exploring the West Coast, said she came across a dead little penguin at Almonta Beach in Coffin Bay National Park on Tuesday. "It was obviously quite sad and I didn't think much of it, but then kept walking and there was another one about 30 metres away," Ms Eleftherieu said. "And probably 50 to 100 metres away, were another two washed up on the beach. A DEW spokesperson said it was aware of reports of four penguin carcasses at Almonta Beach. "Penguin carcasses do wash up on South Australian beaches from time to time, including in Coffin Bay National Park," they said. "There are a variety of possible causes of penguin deaths, including terrestrial and marine predators, starvation and fatigue associated with changes in food availability, storm events, ingestion of plastics, natural disease and entanglement in fishing nets." District Council of Streaky Bay mayor Travis Barber said he came across a dead penguin and a dead mutton bird last weekend while walking his dog on a local beach. "I reported those to [the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia] PIRSA and was told two other ones had been reported down the beach. It's a bit of a concern," Mr Barber said. "I collected the bird out of the water and put it up on the high ground to report it so they could go and get it. "I was told about the bird flu issue possibility and was told to go straight home and wash my hands. "I hadn't any awareness of that so it is a good warning to people if they do find stuff, not to touch them or use a plastic bag." PIRSA was contacted for comment. The DEW spokesperson said the algal bloom was likely being driven by an ongoing marine heatwave affecting southern Australian waters, with water temperatures 2.5 degrees warmer than usual. Mr Barker said water temperatures were "still quite high" in Streaky Bay compared to last year's cold upwelling, which brought temperatures down to 12 degrees Celsius in summer. "When I was out only a couple of weeks ago it was still nearly 20C. That's really unusual for this time of year," he said. The DEW spokesperson said the bloom was expected to remain present until the state received strong westerly winds, which historically started around the end of April. "However, persistent high-pressure systems affecting southern Australia have delayed these winds. Nothing can be done to dilute or dissipate the bloom," they said. The DEW encouraged anyone who discovered a dead or sick penguin to contact the PIRSA Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
