Latest news with #BradMartin
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Toxic algae killing marine life off Australian coast
Karenia mikimotoi damages the gills of fish and prevents them from breathing. (OzFish/AFP pic) SYDNEY : 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 common for our volunteers to say: 'We walked for 1km along the beach and saw 100 dead rays and other marine life',' he told AFP. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected. The bloom stretches across 4,400sq km, Martin said – an area larger than Japan or Germany. Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, the US and China where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars' worth of damage. But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. 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 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.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Toxic algae killing marine life off Australian coast
A dead sixspine leatherjacket is seen along the shore at Victor Harbour in South Australia. - Photo: AFP SYDNEY: 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 common for our volunteers to say: 'We walked for one kilometre along the beach and saw 100 dead rays and other marine life'," he told AFP. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected. The bloom stretches across 4,400 square kilometres (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, the United States and China where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. 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 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
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Toxic algae causing mass deaths of sharks, rays and other marine life off Australia: "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. Toxic algae kills more than 200 marine species in Australia — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 13, 2025 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.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Toxic algae killing over 200 species of marine life off Australian coast
A dead sixspine leatherjacket is seen along the shore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. PHOTO: AFP Toxic algae killing over 200 species of marine life off Australian coast SYDNEY – 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 Mr Brad Martin, a manager of the non-profit fish conservation group Ozfish. 'It is common for our volunteers to say, 'We walked for one kilometre along the beach and saw 100 dead rays and other marine life',' he said. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected. The bloom stretches across 4,400 sq km, Mr Martin said – an area larger than Japan or Germany. Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, the United States and China, where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. But Mr Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. 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 Dr 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 has been no relief yet, South Australian Environment Minister Susan Close said. '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, the South Australian 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 Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
