Latest news with #coastline
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
South Australia algal bloom a 'natural disaster,' state's premier says, as species wiped out
Social Sharing A massive outbreak of toxic algae off South Australia, which has devastated hundreds of species of marine life and disrupted local tourism and fishing, is a "natural disaster," state Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Tuesday. "I want to be really clear about this. This is a natural disaster," Malinauskas said. "I think politicians can do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities. This is a natural disaster. It should be acknowledged as such." The algal bloom, first detected in March, spans an area 4,500 square kilometres in size and has been aggravated by rising ocean temperatures, environment officials say. More than 400 different species of marine life have been killed off or died as a result of the algal bloom, Malinauskas said. "It's important to recognize that this is an unprecedented event," he said. "We've never seen an algal bloom of this size and this scale in the history of our country's coastline." Malinauskas announced a $12.5 million Cdn support package to tackle the outbreak, matching a package by the federal government. The combined $25 million would assist with cleanup efforts, research, and business support. The toxic bloom has been caused by overgrowth of the Karenia mikimotoi algal species, which affects fish gills and sucks oxygen out of the water as it decomposes, the state's Environment Department said. Contributing to its growth was a marine heat wave that started in 2024, when sea temperatures were about 2.5 C warmer than usual. Michael Parsons, a marine science professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, said these blooms could get more common as climate change makes waters more hospitable to the toxic algae. "One concern is that many of these harmful algal bloom species — especially in the temperate and subtropical waters — they really cannot handle the cold water temperatures of winter time as well," Parsons said. "And so if we have milder autumn water temperatures, milder winter temperatures, we can see that these species can continue to bloom and continue to thrive into the winter months." Patrick Martone, a botany professor at the University of British Columbia, said increased rainfall from climate change also washes more land-based nutrients into the water, fuelling the growth of more blooms. Once a bloom has flourished, he said, all that can really be done is to leave it to die on its own. "There's no way for people to go in and filter out all of the water of all the algae that are living there," Martone said. "So there's just not a good solution, unfortunately." More than 13,850 dead animals, including sharks, rays and invertebrates, have been recorded by the public on the iNaturalist app. The bloom has impacted tourism and forced oyster and mussel farms to temporarily shut down due to a waterborne toxin caused by the algae, local media said. Parsons said the bloom could have prolonged effects on the local ecosystem, as toxins from the algae make their way up the food chain. Further, the bacteria required to break down this much dead sea life can drain oxygen from the surrounding waters, causing further deaths. "We see this with other harmful algal bloom species where the impacts may last for years as the fish populations recover from those impacts," he said. Murray Watt, Australia's environment minister, said on Monday the algal bloom was a "very serious environmental event," but he stopped short of declaring it a national disaster, which would allow for greater federal support.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Bananas for banana: the surprising new trend in perfume
When the sun's out, we tend to lean towards citrusy scents that enliven, invigorate, and immediately transport us to the coastline – think juicy bergamot, neroli, lemon and fig. But not this year, not summer 2025 when there's an unusual tropical fruit that's trending: banana. Yes, the fruit most of you probably have in your kitchen right now could well be popping up in your perfume. Searches across Google and TikTok for banana fragrances are up by 46.8 per cent compared to last year and the hashtag #bananaperfume has racked up over 6.6 million views. Gourmands, as a fragrance category, have also gained traction over the past 12 months. Vanilla has been leading the charge but caramel, coconut, cherry, rum and chocolate are becoming more customary aromas with audiences of every age, and now banana is being cited as the new 'it' note. 'We're all craving a playful olfactory twist,' explains Jun Lim, founder of perfume brand BornToStandOut. 'And that's where banana delivers. Its creamy, quirky sweetness hits the spot, and what used to feel like a joke, now feels fresh.' According to perfumers, banana is incredibly versatile as a note and blends well with other fragrance families – from florals and spices to musks and amber, to other gourmand flavours, be it tropical fruits like pineapple and guava or sweet treats like honey and vanilla. Of course, you can't distil a banana as you would a flower or other fruits to create absolutes and essential oils, so the scent is made up of synthetic molecules, which gives perfumers even more freedom to get creative. It's also why not all banana fragrances smell like a Knickerbocker Glory and can be surprisingly grown-up, wearable and modern. Offering escapism, nostalgia and originality, banana perfumes are perfect if you like your fragrance wardrobe on the quirkier side. Plus, what a great talking point if someone asks you what scent you're wearing. Will we still be going bonkers over bananas come winter? Who knows. Romy Kowalewski, founder of Barcelona-based perfume house 27 87, thinks this is just the beginning: 'We're at the early exploration of what this note can become and banana is ushering in what feels like a new chapter for tropical scents. Think of how pistachio went from niche fascination to mainstream darling. I believe banana is on a similar trajectory and is an evolving note with elegance and edge.' Interested to see which scents we're going bananas for? These are the ones that have real 'a-peel':
Zawya
a day ago
- Health
- Zawya
Microplastics' escalating threat to South Africa's health, environment
The growing impact of microplastics in South Africa is having an escalating effect on the environment and public health. Recent studies reveal alarming statistics: over 80% of South African freshwater sources contain microplastic contamination, with concentrations reaching up to 10,000 particles per cubic meter in some urban rivers. Health risk Coastal surveys show microplastics in over 90% of sampled beach sediments, threatening marine ecosystems and entering the seafood chain. This problem is compounded by South Africa's high plastic consumption and limited recycling infrastructure, leading to widespread plastic pollution. As plastics degrade, they fragment into microplastics, which are virtually impossible to remove from the environment and can persist for decades. 'Everyday plastic waste, such as bags, bottles and packaging, often ends up in landfills, waterways and the environment, due to inadequate waste management. 'In addition, urban stormwater runoff carries tire dust, synthetic clothing fibres, and plastic litter into rivers and oceans,' notes Nicholas De Beer, director of Fortis X. 'Wastewater treatment plants, many of which are outdated or under-resourced, struggle to filter out microplastics from domestic and industrial sources. 'Additionally, lost or discarded fishing gear along South Africa's coastline contributes significantly to marine microplastic pollution, ultimately seeping into the food chain,' adds De Beer. Microplastics are not just an environmental nuisance; they pose real risks to human health. Toxic environment Globally, individuals are estimated to consume between 11,845 and 193,200 microplastic particles per year, with drinking water identified as the primary source. The toxicity of microplastics stems from both their inherent properties and their to interact with other pollutants, such as heavy metals. Scientific research increasingly links microplastic ingestion and inhalation to a range of health issues: - Chemical exposure: Microplastics often carry toxic additives like phthalates, BPA, and heavy metals, which can leach into food and beverages, disrupting endocrine functions and increasing cancer risks. - Immune system impact: Studies show microplastics can cause inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially impairing immune responses. - Bioaccumulation: Microplastics accumulate in the human body over time, with recent findings detecting microplastics in blood, lungs, and even placentas, raising concerns about long-term effects on development and reproduction. - Food safety: In South Africa, where bottled water and packaged beverages are widely consumed, microplastic contamination directly threatens consumer health. 'These tiny particles are increasingly being found in drinking water, food, and even the air, raising serious questions about long-term health impacts. 'Studies suggest that microplastics can carry toxic chemicals, including endocrine disruptors and heavy metals, which may leach into the body once ingested or inhaled. 'Once inside, microplastics have been shown to trigger inflammation, disrupt cellular processes, and potentially accumulate in organs, though the full extent of harm is still under investigation,' De Beer explains, adding 'given these risks, reducing exposure to microplastics is a critical public health priority.' While conventional plastics are designed to be durable, they degrade into tiny fragments over time rather than fully breaking down. These microplastics persist in the environment, absorbing toxins and entering food chains through marine and freshwater organisms. Says De Beer: 'The cumulative effect of these sources is a growing environmental and health concern, especially as plastic use continues to outpace the development of sustainable waste solutions.' Microplastics represent a hidden but escalating threat to South African health and the environment.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Spain fears for the future of Barcelona's disappearing beaches
Ana García rents a shack at a beach just north of Barcelona every year, spending two months there in the summer with her daughter. But García fears summers by the sea in Montgat, about a 30-minute drive from central Barcelona, eventually could be numbered. Storms and sea level rise driven by climate change are eroding the man-made beaches in metropolitan Barcelona, with the sea swallowing swathes of coastline every year, authorities say. Compared to natural coastlines, man-made beaches erode faster. Montgat's coastline has eroded especially fast, locals and authorities say. 'Clearly, this is worrying,' García said. 'Because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger.' The fishing town turned summering spot is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the main economic activity in the 'Maresme,' or marshlands, north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain 's second-largest city was named host of the 1992 Olympic Games. Where once there were just rocks, breakwaters and thin stretches of sand, several new beaches were constructed, helping turn the city into one of Europe 's premier tourism hotspots. Climate change is threatening that transformation in small coastal towns like Montgat by intensifying storms that erode coastline and driving sea-level rise. While authorities have responded by replacing the lost sand and building some breakwaters, the efforts haven't kept pace with the coastline's erosion. Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simply adding more sand isn't enough. 'What we must do first isn't just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it," Torra said. 'In the case of the 'Maresme' region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach." Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union 's Copernicus Climate Change Service. As the planet warms, sea levels rise largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it grows warmer. That increases the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges that lead to land loss. At Montgat and nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in the fall and winter, when destructive weather systems known locally by the Spanish acronym DANA bring powerful storms to southern Europe. The storms have wreaked havoc on Montgat's coastline in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that climbed as high as 5 meters (16 feet) tall and left parts of Montgat virtually without a beach. Afterward, a line of rocks serving as a breakwater was built after the waves reached a line of beachfront houses. Montgat Mayor Andreu Absil reckons only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He stressed the importance of the beach for locals. 'The beaches are the last democratic space we have,' Absil said. 'And they should be for all of us to use and enjoy all year long." Barcelona's authorities estimate 60 million euros ($70.2 million) are needed to stabilize the coastline in metropolitan Barcelona's 42 kilometres (26 miles) of coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of which are beaches like Montgat. Add to that the yearly maintenance costs after storms. Scientists say the biggest problem will arrive when the sea reaches the town's infrastructure including the train line, homes and businesses. The rate of sea level rise portends more loss, academics say. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said current trends show sea levels along the Catalan coast are four times higher today than three decades ago. He said it has risen by 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 25 years while waves are on average 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) higher. 'So we don't need to predict it will accelerate. We can say already it has multiplied by four since the 1990's,' he said, adding that he believes the time for climate adaptation is now. Those measures include building seawalls, planting vegetation as a barrier to the sea and more. Local business owners in the town depend on summer tourism and worry what could take hold when the sea swallows up more sand. Those who come year after year for the fresh seafood and cold beer share the concern. José Luís Vélez, a retiree, has been coming to the same beach bar for years, having witnessed the changes Montgat underwent after the '92 Olympics, as well as its coastline in retreat. 'It's been great but the sea has started to erode all the sand. And we aren't seeing people really doing something about it. So we think this could have an expiration date," Vélez said.
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
‘Devastating' toxic algal bloom declared natural disaster in Australia amid warnings Bondi beach could be next
South Australia has declared its toxic algal bloom a natural disaster following weeks of pressure from scientists, local officials and community members over what has been called an 'unprecedented' marine crisis. The bloom – fuelled by the toxic algae Karenia mikimotoi – has devastated marine life along more than 500km of the coastline since March, killing thousands of fish, rays, sharks, and dolphins, and threatening local fisheries and coastal livelihoods. South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas described the bloom as a natural disaster that 'should be acknowledged as such' and urged leaders not to get 'caught up in technicalities'. 'This is so entirely unprecedented we don't really know how it's going to play out over coming weeks and months ahead,' he told ABC's News Breakfast, noting over 400 marine species had been impacted. Federal environment minister Murray Watt visited some of the affected areas this week and pledged a $14m assistance package but said the event did not yet meet the criteria for formal natural disaster status. South Australia, however, invoked state authority to make its own declaration, unlocking additional emergency support. Marine experts have been sounding the alarm over the crisis for months. In May, conservationists said the boom had already killed over 200 marine species. 'It's hard to overstate the extreme severity of the algal bloom environmental crisis in South Australia,' Adriana Vergés, a marine ecologist at the University of New South Wales, said. 'We are talking about extensive mortality of nearly 500 different marine species, including key habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates, as well as fish over more than 500 km of coastline. It's completely devastating.' Described as a 'toxic blanket', the bloom suffocates fish by damaging their gills and attacking their red blood cells and the nervous system. It can lead to haemorrhaging and erratic behaviour in the affected animals. Photos from beaches around Adelaide show carcasses of snapper, stingrays and other dead sea creatures lining the shore. According to local records cited by The Guardian, over 13,800 animals are confirmed dead but the real toll is likely far higher. Professor Shauna Murray, a harmful algal bloom expert at the University of Technology Sydney, said the bloom had impacted several hundred square kilometres of coastline since mid-March and was now impacting Adelaide, a city of 1.5 million. She warned that brevetoxins – neurotoxins produced by the algae – had already been detected in some seafood. 'It's not just having an ecologically disastrous effect, it's now severely impacting fishing and aquaculture industries as well as tourism. We need regular monitoring and financial support for all affected,' she said. The crisis has already led to the closure of Coorong's pipi fishery and parts of the state's oyster aquaculture due to health concerns. Scientists warn that less mobile species, like seahorses, flatheads and leatherjackets, may take years to recover. John Morrongiello, associate professor at the University of Melbourne, described it as 'an ecological catastrophe' that could have long-term consequences for marine food webs and coastal economies. Climate and nutrient pollution are believed to have played a role in the crisis. Scientists say it is being fuelled by an ongoing marine heatwave, with sea temperatures 2.5C above average, and calm conditions that allow it to thrive. 'This is climate change in real time,' Dr Nina Wootton from the University of Adelaide said. 'The consequences of years of inaction are now unfolding before our eyes.' The algae species behind the toxic bloom has traits that may explain its unusual scale and persistence, according to scientists. 'This species of algae has several adaptations that may have enhanced its ability to grow in the context of the South Australian blooms,' professor Perran Cook from the School of Chemistry at Monash University said. 'It can 'swim' up and down in the water column, which allows it to take up nutrients from the deeper layers of water when there is little mixing, as has been the case in the waters off South Australia this year,' he explained. 'The warmer conditions typically favour most algal growth, and this species is no exception. It also has a wide temperature tolerance, which might help explain its persistence into winter.' Dr Cook noted the algae's ability to 'assimilate the 'remains' of other algal blooms' could link it to the 2023 Murray River floods, which 'released vast amounts of nutrients that stimulated algal growth then, and it is possible that these nutrients are still rippling through the food web.' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the $14m assistance announced by the federal minister was just a 'downpayment' and criticised the government for failing to declare the crisis a federal emergency. Speaking in the parliament, she warned that such events were becoming more likely due to the climate crisis. 'It's Adelaide beaches today but it could be Bondi tomorrow,' she said, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the bloom and the introduction of a 'climate trigger' in Australia's environmental laws. In response, prime minister Anthony Albanese said the government's support was timed 'appropriately' given the event was unfolding primarily in state waters. 'What is important is that there be a response,' he told ABC's 7.30 show. 'We are responding, giving support to the South Australian government.' Dr Christopher Keneally from the University of Adelaide said the toxic bloom's scale, potential to cross state boundaries and long-term ecological legacy placed it 'on par with the bushfires and floods that routinely trigger federal interventions'. 'This is not just an environmental event – it's an ecological disaster,' added Dr Lucille Chapuis, a marine biologist at La Trobe University. 'Like a bushfire or floodwater, a toxic bloom can sweep through an ecosystem, and we must treat it with the same urgency.' Scientists are calling for a national response strategy and long-term investments in monitoring and early warning systems for such events. 'We cannot just treat this as a one-off event that should be monitored. This is a complex problem and we need a coordinated science–industry–governance response,' professor Martina Doblin, director of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, said.
