Latest news with #marinecrisis
BBC News
an hour ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Australia's toxic algae bloom is 'natural disaster'
An algal bloom catastrophe which has turned usually pristine South Australian waters toxic green and suffocated masses of marine life is a "natural disaster", the state premier has declared. The algal bloom - a rapid increase in the population of algae in water systems – has been spreading since March and is now twice the size of the country's capital territory. The federal government has unveiled an assistance package of A$14m ($9m; £6.7m) but refused to designate the event a natural disaster - a term usually used for cyclones, floods and bushfires and which would trigger a greater response. Authorities say more than 400 species of marine life have died and local industries are suffering. Algal bloom is naturally occurring but is caused by ocean warming, marine heatwaves, and nutrient pollution - all a direct result of climate change. "This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such... I think politicians can do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities," South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday. He announced his government would match the federal government's A$14m in funding, with money to go towards research, clean up, and industry support measures. EPA Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young is among those openly criticising the federal government, accusing them of underplaying the situation. "If this toxic algal bloom was wreaking havoc on Bondi Beach or on the North Shore in Sydney, the prime minister would have already been on the beach with a response," she said. However, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt on Monday said while the bloom and its impacts were "incredibly disturbing", the catastrophe did not meet the definition of a natural disaster under the country's laws. The bloom - which now stretches from Coorong to the Yorke Peninsula, an area about double the size of the Australian Capital Territory - is decimating the local environment and lining the coastline with dead wildlife. "It is like a horror movie for fish," Brad Martin - from OzFish, a non-profit organisation that protects fishing habitats - told the BBC in May. But the event is also wreaking havoc on the local economy. Representatives of the fishing industry say some of their members have had no income for at least three months. "I've got fishermen in tears on the phone," Ian Mitchell - who works as a middleman between fishers and retailers - told the ABC.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Toxic algae bloom lingers off Australia, killing marine life
SYDNEY, July 22 — A vast toxic algae bloom has sparked growing concern in Australia as it lingers off the south coast, killing hundreds of marine species and disrupting fisheries. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unlocked federal funds this week to cope with the Karenia mikimotoi algae as it persists four months after first appearing. South Australia's government said it was holding an emergency meeting Tuesday to be briefed by scientists on the phenomenon. The algae, which damages the gills of fish and suffocates them, stretched across 4,400 square kilometres when it was first spotted in mid-March, according to the state government. While South Australian authorities hoped the bloom would disperse, it has instead spread across the region, the latest government update said. A marine heatwave in the area had 'largely abated', it said, but remained in some deeper waters. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been littered with the marine carcasses of sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses. 'It's hard to overstate the extreme severity of the algal-bloom environmental crisis in South Australia,' said marine ecologist Adriana Verges from University of New South Wales. 'We are talking about extensive mortality of nearly 500 different marine species, including key habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates, as well as fish. It's completely devastating.' 'Red flashing warning' Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world, including in waters off Japan, Norway, the United States and China, since the 1930s and disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. Ian Mitchell, who manages a fish market in Adelaide, said some people had not caught anything since April. 'It's the worst I've ever seen it,' he told national broadcaster ABC. 'I'm speaking to fishermen on a daily basis, and I've got fishermen in tears on the phone.' The federal government announced on Monday A$14 million (RM38.6 million) in financial assistance to impacted fisheries, clean-up efforts and research into preparedness. The prime minister said a 'whole range of issues' had led to the event, including nutrient-rich floodwater runoff and above-average ocean temperatures. Historically fishing and aquaculture industries can take years to recover from these algae blooms, said Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Paul Gamblin. 'It's an enormous red flashing warning that climate change has arrived off Australia and it is having enormous impacts,' he told AFP. South Australia has not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. Local authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discoloured or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems. — AFP
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Australia's Growing Algal Crisis in South Devastates Marine Life
Australia's government has unveiled an assistance package of at least A$14 million ($9.1 million) to help tackle a growing algal bloom crisis off the southern coast that's killing marine life and damaging regional fisheries. Environment Minister Murray Watt announced the funding package in the southern city of Adelaide on Monday after inspecting the damage. He described the unfolding natural disaster as 'a very serious event.'
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal funding to assist SA to deal with algal bloom but no national disaster declaration
The federal government has pledged $14 million to assist South Australia as it continues to deal with a toxic algal bloom outbreak, but has stopped short of declaring it a national disaster. In a press conference in Adelaide, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt described the bloom as "a serious environmental event". SA Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the funding pledge and said the state government would be meeting on Tuesday to make deliberations about additional funding support. The bloom has been ravaging marine life throughout the state since March, disrupting fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries and threatening fragile coastal ecosystems. It has also seen dead marine life, including dead sharks and stingrays, wash up on metropolitan beaches. Mr Watt briefed the federal cabinet this morning on the algal bloom before flying to Adelaide to inspect its impact on metropolitan beaches. "The federal cabinet was unified in recognising that this is a very serious event facing South Australia and that we need to step up federal government support for South Australia as they lead the response effort here," he said. Mr Watt said the $14 million funding package came in response to a request lodged by the South Australian government on Sunday. "There will need to be some further discussions between ourselves and the South Australian government about exactly the details of how that funding is used," he said. "But it's intended to deal with a number of short-term requirements and some of the longer-term needs that South Australia is going to face as it recovers from this event." Mr Watt said he expected the funding to go towards activities like cleaning up beaches, assisting affected businesses, boosting "community awareness" and investing in scientific research. "The reality is we are in uncharted waters here," he said. "This is an unprecedented event and one of the difficulties has been understanding exactly what its impacts are and what sort of response is required." The funding package comes amid mounting criticism of the federal government's response to the crisis, with the Greens suggesting a federal response would have come quicker if the bloom occurred in Sydney. Earlier today, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said he had "rather assertively" urged the federal government to treat the algal bloom as a natural disaster and provide financial assistance.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
No ‘overnight' fix for monstrous algal bloom lurking off South Australia
Environment Minister Murray Watt is heading to Adelaide amid mounting pressure on the Albanese government to act on the toxic algal bloom festering off South Australia's coast. Suffocated by the bloom, thousands of dead sea animals have been washing up on South Australian beaches for months. The bloom, which is thought to be the product of severe east coast flooding in 2022, has reportedly grown to twice the size of the ACT. Senator Watt will on Monday brief cabinet on the catastrophe before flying from Canberra to Adelaide. 'We've said consistently that we're willing to support the South Australian government as they manage this event and the visit that I'm paying today will ensure that I can keep the cabinet well informed about what the situation is and what support may be required,' he said. He also said it was 'a naturally occurring phenomena that is not going to be solved overnight'. 'We all want to see those beautiful beaches return to the state they're normally in,' Senator Watt said. 'We want to be able to see recreational and commercial fishers be able to get back to what they're doing and we want to see all those incredible species returned to health. 'We will continue working to support the South Australian government's response.' The visit to Adelaide signals a change in the Albanese government's handling of the issue. Senator Watt insisted as recently as last Friday that it was a state issue, brushing off concerns from the Greens and state-level MPs.
