Toxic algae killing sharks, rays, crabs: "Like a horror movie for fish"
A vast bloom of toxic algae is killing more than 200 species of marine life off the southern coast of Australia, scientists and conservation groups say.
The algae — Karenia mikimotoi — appeared in waters around South Australia state in March, causing mass deaths in species including sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses.
"There are carcasses littering beaches," said Brad Martin, a manager of the non-profit fish conservation group Ozfish.
"It is like a horror movie for fish," Martin told the BBC.
Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected.
The bloom stretches across 1,700 square miles, Martin said -- an area larger than Japan or Germany.
Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, China and the United States where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. In California, hundreds of seas animals have died due to a toxic algae bloom stretching from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, CBS Los Angeles reported last month.
But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration.
"It's an unprecedented event, because the bloom has continued to build and build," wildlife scientists Vanessa Pirotta told the BBC.
The South Australian government said the event is thought to have been driven by a marine heatwave, as well as relatively calm marine conditions.
Marine biologist Shauna Murray, who identified the algae species for the authorities, said it damages the gills of fish and prevents them from breathing.
"It is not pleasant," said Murray, from the University of Technology Sydney. "It will probably take some time for the ecosystem to recuperate."
While conditions usually ease towards the end of April, there had been no relief yet, South Australian Environment Minister Susan Close said this month.
"We need a big change in weather to break this thing up -- there is nothing we can do to precipitate this," she told national broadcaster ABC.
In the meantime, South Australian authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discolored 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.
Sneak peek: Fatal First Date
Trump teases "good news" on Russia-Ukraine war
Sneak peek: The Footprint
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump's new ban dodges pitfalls faced by last attempt, experts say
US President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping new travel ban for people from 12 countries, revisiting a hallmark policy of his first term in office. There are some key differences, however. The original travel ban suffered a series of legal defeats. This time, the policy appears to have been designed to avoid the same pitfalls. Its predecessor, which targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries and was dubbed the "Muslim ban" by critics, was ordered just a week after Trump took office in 2017, during his first term in the White House. The ban was amended twice to overcome court challenges, after opponents argued it was unconstitutional and illegal because it discriminated against travellers based on their religion. A scaled-back version was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, which this new ban closely resembles. Legal experts told the BBC that it appeared Trump had learned lessons from his first attempt. Christi Jackson, an expert in US immigration law at the London firm Laura Devine Immigration, said the new ban was more legally robust as a result. While the first lacked "clarity", the new restrictions were "wider in scope" and had "clearly defined" exemptions, she said. While there are some similarities in the nations chosen by the 2017 ban and the 2025 ban, Muslim-majority states are not the express target of the latest order. Barbara McQuade, professor of law at the University of Michigan and former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme that, on this basis, it seemed likely to win the approval of the Supreme Court, if it was ever referred up to that level. Trump's travel ban: Follow live updates Everything we know about the ban so far Why are these 12 countries on the list? Trump suspends foreign student visas at Harvard The 12 countries subject to the harshest restrictions from 9 June are mainly in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean, including Afghanistan, Iran and Somalia. There will be partial restrictions on travellers from another seven countries, including Cuban and Venezuelan nationals. Trump said the strength of the restrictions would be graded against the severity of the perceived threat, including from terrorism. But besides Iran, none of the 12 countries hit by the outright ban are named on the US government's state sponsors of terrorism list. In a video announcing the ban posted on X, Trump cited Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado, in which a man was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators attending a march for Israeli hostages. The alleged attacker was an Egyptian national. However, Egypt does not appear on either list. Trump also specified high rates of people overstaying their visas as a reason for listing certain countries. However, Steven D Heller, an immigration lawyer based in the US, said there was a "lack of clarity" over what threshold had to be met by a country's overstaying rate in order for that country to be placed on Trump's ban list. That could be the basis for a successful legal challenge, he suggested. "If they're relying on this notion of excessive overstay rates... they have to define what that actually means," he told the BBC. Unlike the first ban, which was to last for only 90 to 120 days, today's order has no end date. It has been met with dismay in the targeted countries. Venezuela has described the Trump administration as "supremacists who think they own the world", though Somalia has pledged to "engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised". The original ban spurred mass protests and sowed chaos at US airports. It was repealed in 2021 by Trump's successor, President Joe Biden, who called the policy "a stain on our national conscience."
Hamilton Spectator
3 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Binoculars go up as birds spotted on Hunter's Bay Trail. Here's what a group of Huntsville birders experienced
Chirps and calls carry through the trees and across the fog-covered water at Hunter's Bay. 'We can hear the birds all around us,' said Dale Wenger , a local naturalist and birder. It's early on a quiet Monday morning at Avery Beach Park in Huntsville, and Wenger is leading a small group on a birding walk, helping both beginners and seasoned birders spot movement in the branches and identify distinct calls. On June 2 at 6:30 a.m., the two-hour guided walk on Hunter's Bay Trail began. Among the group of birders was Wenger's neighbour, Janie Martin. She and her friend Bev Belanger started tagging along on his birding outings earlier this year. 'He's so knowledgeable,' Martin said. 'He's always looking up at the trees and if you're talking to him he'll get sidetracked; he'll just go, 'Did you hear that?' Then when describing where the birds are, he's so explicit on what tree or bush they're in.' Just as Martin described, Wenger paused to point out a bird in the trees. 'There's an American redstart. This is a young male,' he tells Martin, pointing to a nearby tree. 'So if you look, Janie, come a little bit this way. He has really dark black in his eyes. If you see these first few branches right here in front of us, yes, so just follow them straight up and he's about 10 feet below on a branch.' Martin lifts her binoculars. 'Oh, I see him,' she said. For her, birding is more than a hobby — it's a way to connect with Muskoka's environment. It has also deepened her awareness of local ecology and the impact of human choices, she said. 'Not to ring the alarm bells, but there isn't a bird species out there that isn't declining,' Wenger said, attributing lower bird populations to two main factors: climate change and insect loss. Warmer winters are pushing some species, like northern cardinals, farther north into areas like Muskoka. While some birds show short-term rebounds, long-term studies point to overall declines across nearly all species, he said. Insect decline is the second major issue, according to Wenger. Pesticides — used both in agriculture and backyard mosquito control — are reducing insect populations and contaminating the ones that remain. Birds face a double burden: there's less food, and what's left is often toxic. 'There is the minor nuisance of insects,' Wenger said. 'But if people could just be a little bit more patient with them, they're only around for two months.' Wenger also raised concerns about pesticide runoff affecting local water quality. He said environmental stressors are compounding, hitting ecosystems from all sides. Try using a DIY vinegar spray for bug control: What started as a class in environmental studies quickly became an intense passion for Wenger. While in post-secondary, he took a course on birding and was 'completely blown away.' Birds, he said, help make environmental issues feel real. Once people begin noticing the changes in their own space, 'they tend to have a better respect for the bigger picture,' Wenger said. Wenger said birding doesn't require remote wilderness. People don't need to 'drive two hours' to experience wildlife, he said — cedar waxwings, red-eyed vireos, chestnut-sided warblers, and many more species can be found close to home. To guide his outings, Wenger uses two apps: Merlin Bird ID , which helps identify birds through photos or sounds, and eBird , which allows him to log sightings and contribute to a global database of bird observations. He also keeps a Kenn Kaufman bird book on hand. According to Wenger, the answer is yes, birding absolutely brings visitors to the region. 'Not only have we had lots of locals, which is nice because they're just learning more about their backyards, but then we have people from London, Niagara Falls, Toronto, and more,' he said. In a recent campaign by Muskoka Tourism, funded in part by the District of Muskoka, which ran from April 12 to May 10, Wenger and other naturalists led guided birding events across the region. 'People are becoming interested in the environment — interested in birds,' Wenger said. 'They get outside, which is great for their health. Then on top of that, we're bringing people to Huntsville.' The recent Birding in Muskoka: Nature Takes Flight campaign was held to attract visitors, boost overnight tourism in Muskoka, and encourage respect for nature. Wenger said the birding series had more than 300 participants. Next up, Wenger will be visiting the Huntsville Public Library for a talk on the joys of spotting birds in everyday spaces. An Introduction to Urban Bird Watching will cover the basics of birding and how residents can engage with wildlife close to home. The session on August 19 will be followed by a guided walk the next week; registration is required . Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for . The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
TV Nature filmmaker to recount encounters with wild animals at Colchester show
A POPULAR Scottish wildlife filmmaker is set to headline a Colchester venue next year. Gordon Buchanan will bring his Lions and Tigers and Bears tour to Charter Hall, in Cowdray Avenue, on February 19, 2026, as part of a 30 date UK tour. The filmmaker and photographer will recount tales from his encounters with pandas, polar bears, grizzly bears, lions, jaguars, and the many adventures he has had over the years. A spokesman for the explorer said: 'Hailed as Scotland's own David Attenborough, Gordon Buchanan has dedicated his life to exploring the untamed beauty of the natural world, from forests to snowy landscapes and from towering mountains to the depths of the great rainforests. 'All his travels were with a single mission in mind: To capture the majestic bears and big cats on film and reveal their secrets to a global audience.' He began his career n filmmaking in 1989 and travelled to Sierra Leone to document animals in the Gola Rainforest, he has worked on the Big Cat Diary series and the BBC series Lost Land Of The… Last year, he performed the tour to 25 venues, and he is looking forward to getting back on the road. Speaking about the new tour, Gordon said: 'I had a wonderful time touring Lions and Tigers and Bears earlier this year – and I had to say 'Yes' when the chance came up to go back out on the road to a load of new venues. 'We joked that it sounded like a line from The Wizard of Oz – but the show is all about these amazing creatures, the undisputed icons of the animal kingdom, who I have been incredibly privileged to spend a lifetime observing. 'From pandas in China to orphaned grizzlies in Russia, from high-altitude tigers in the Himalayas to jaguars in the depths of the Amazon, I have been fortunate enough to meet many of these incredible creatures in their natural habitats – and I love being able to share their secrets with audiences. 'I cannot wait to get back out there, to meet more animal lovers and to tell more tales of amazing adventures.' Doors for the event will open at 6.30pm, and the show will start at 7.30pm. Tickets go on sale on Friday; ticket prices have not been revealed yet. To find out more, visit
