Latest news with #toxic algae
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.
E&E News
5 days ago
- Health
- E&E News
Warming waters raise toxic algae levels in Arctic whales
Arctic whales are ingesting higher levels of toxic algae as warming waters create more suitable conditions for microorganisms to thrive, according to newly published NOAA research. That poses risks for those who hunt and consume the whales. The study, published in Nature, found that 'potent neurotoxins' that can cause serious illness and death in humans are increasingly present in fecal samples from bowhead whales that live in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, including areas with sea-ice coverage. Researchers affiliated with NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center found the prevalence and concentrations of two forms of toxins produced by algae — domoic acid and saxitoxin — in whale feces 'increased significantly' between 2004 and 2022, a period of rapid warming in the Arctic that continues today. Advertisement 'This is like a sleeping giant awakening,' Kathi Lefebvre, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the study's lead author, said in a release. 'These are new risks that were previously unknown.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ominous blood-like substance off Aussie coast after 9,000 animals die
An ominous, blood-red substance has been filmed drifting through the sea for metres on end off the South Australian coast this week, as concerns rise in the state over the ongoing toxic algae crisis that has so far been responsible for the deaths of 8,000 to 9,000 marine animals, spanning over 390 species. Footage shared on social media, attracting thousands of responses among Australians, shows a red, paint-like substance billowing through the ocean off Wirrina Cove, a locality on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Worried locals responded, questioning what had left the water such a bright red colour. "Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't make any more ocean critters sick or kill them. I worry for the whales that have been seen at Victor Harbour," a woman said. Authorities in SA continue to grapple with how best to manage the crisis, with experts saying death totals are based on reported observations and are likely underestimates. The bloom, caused by Karenia mikimotoi, has impacted a wide range of marine life, including fish, sharks, rays, invertebrates, and even iconic species like the leafy sea dragon. Yahoo News Australia questioned the SA Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) about the bright red algal bloom at Wirrina Cove. A spokesperson confirmed it is indeed another form of algae — Noctiluca scintillans. "Noctiluca scintillans is not known to have harmful impacts on marine life," they said. Noctiluca scintillans, often nicknamed "sea sparkle," is a type of single-celled marine organism known for its bioluminescence — a glow it emits when disturbed by waves or movement in the water. While beautiful at night, during the day it often appears as a red or pinkish bloom, which is why it's sometimes referred to as a "red tide." This red colour comes not from Noctiluca itself, but from the pigments of the tiny plankton it eats and stores inside its body. 'Toxic to anything with gills': algal bloom spreading Algal bloom turns coast into a 'marine graveyard' Warning to Aussie beachgoers after deadly discovery in waves Despite being non-toxic to humans and not producing traditional algal toxins, Noctiluca can still be harmful in high concentrations. Large blooms can deplete oxygen levels in the water as they die and decay, leading to fish kills or marine life stress, especially in enclosed or poorly flushed coastal areas. Additionally, it can disrupt food webs by outcompeting other plankton and altering nutrient dynamics. Noctiluca blooms are relatively common in Australian waters, especially during warm, calm conditions, and have been observed along coastlines from New South Wales to South Australia. While they attract attention for their visual spectacle, particularly during night-time blooms, their presence can often be an indicator of nutrient imbalance or environmental change in marine ecosystems. Professor Shauna Murray of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney, is an expert on algal blooms. In an interview with Yahoo News, she said it's probably "too early to tell" what's causing this apparent nutrient imbalance in southern waters. "I think it's too early to say exactly what factors are driving this particular harmful algal bloom (HAB) of Karenia mikimotoi," she said. "Every species of harmful algae has highly individual conditions that it grows under, and these vary. Karenia mikimotoi is normally a temperate species, which blooms in the north of China, the north Atlantic, and other countries. "However, having said that, it could be that a one-degree increase in water temperatures over an extended time frame could be contributing to the growth of the species. Other conditions, such as currents, water nutrients, and other factors, are also contributing. HABs are almost always due to a specific combination of factors unique to the algal species." In general, Murray Said, climate change is "certainly having long-term impacts on HABs. "We are seeing HABs extend their range further south, like blooms of Noctiluca scintillans, which now occur into Tasmanian waters, but previously were only found in mainland Australia," she said. Karenia mikimotoi produce reactive oxygen species that damage gill tissues, leading to suffocation in marine animals, affecting ecosystems along approximately 150 kilometres of coastline, including areas around the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, and Adelaide's metropolitan beaches. The situation remains critical, with ongoing monitoring and response efforts by authorities and scientists. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
