Toxic algae blooms on Australian south coast
It was first detected off the coast of the state of South Australia in March during a marine heatwave. Since it was identified, the bloom has spread and killed thousands of marine creatures, including sharks, penguins and rays.
Underwater footage captured by local divers showed that the toxic algae have also caused a mass death of fish, coral and seagrass.
In a post on social media, one diver said he found a large dolphin on a beach in Marino, in the south of Adelaide. The diver said the dolphin had washed up on the beach, dead.
This is not a quiet tragedy; it is a national disaster, he said.
Experts are urging the Australian government to take immediate action. But state authorities have suggested nothing can be done to dilute the bloom.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
18 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers aged 18 to 49 with chronic illnesses can soon receive subsidised flu jabs
Hong Kong residents aged 18 to 49 who have chronic illnesses can receive a subsidised flu jab later this year under health authorities' plan to expand the city's vaccination programme, the Post has learned. The new move would help to identify the city's hidden population with chronic illnesses and provide them with stronger community healthcare support services, according to a government source on Friday. 'Apart from encouraging more people to get vaccinated against the flu, the expansion will also help authorities to identify more residents with chronic illnesses when they make declarations [of their condition], so that they can be better supported with electronic health information and district health centres,' the source said. Details of the plan are expected to be announced later. Currently, the government provides free or subsidised seasonal influenza vaccination to residents aged 6 months to 18 years, and those aged 50 or older. Those aged 18 to 49 are only eligible if they are disabled or if they are social security recipients with chronic illnesses. High-risk groups, such as residents of care homes, healthcare workers and those who work in the poultry and animal slaughter industries, are also eligible.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- South China Morning Post
China's Hainan eyes medical tourism boom after South Korea axes cosmetic surgery tax perks
China's tropical island province of Hainan is accelerating its push to become a leading medical tourism hub , aiming to attract more nationals to use local healthcare services instead of seeking treatment abroad – after South Korea announced plans to scrap tax rebates for foreigners undergoing cosmetic surgery. The popular tourist destination in southern China plans to draw more than 1.5 million domestic medical tourists annually by 2027, up from the current level of over 400,000, according to a local government document issued on Monday. Hainan has also pledged to reverse the outflow of overseas medical consumption. It aims to approve two to four real-world research pilot products for domestic market entry each year and introduce at least 40 international innovative drugs and medical devices annually. In the first quarter of 2025, institutions in Hainan's special medical tourism zone welcomed 111,500 visitors seeking treatment, up 29.8 per cent year on year, the state-owned People's Daily reported last month. The use of licensed drugs and medical devices reached 16,000 people during the same period – a 44.14 per cent rise from a year earlier, according to the report. The push came as South Korea – a top competitor in medical tourism – risks losing its appeal due to a policy change announced on July 31. The new regulation, which takes effect next year, will remove value-added tax refunds for foreign tourists using medical beauty services.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Toxic algae blooms on Australian south coast
An outbreak of the toxic algae species Karenia mikimotoi is concerning marine experts and conservationists in Australia. It was first detected off the coast of the state of South Australia in March during a marine heatwave. Since it was identified, the bloom has spread and killed thousands of marine creatures, including sharks, penguins and rays. Underwater footage captured by local divers showed that the toxic algae have also caused a mass death of fish, coral and seagrass. In a post on social media, one diver said he found a large dolphin on a beach in Marino, in the south of Adelaide. The diver said the dolphin had washed up on the beach, dead. This is not a quiet tragedy; it is a national disaster, he said. Experts are urging the Australian government to take immediate action. But state authorities have suggested nothing can be done to dilute the bloom.
