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News18
3 hours ago
- Climate
- News18
Australia's Algal Bloom Declared ‘Natural Disaster': What's Behind The Toxic Sea Crisis?
Last Updated: A massive algal bloom off South Australia's coast has turned the sea toxic, killing over 400 marine species and devastating local industries. A massive algal bloom off the South Australian coast has turned vast stretches of sea into a toxic green soup, killing marine life by the thousands and devastating local industries. Here's what we know. What Is An Algal Bloom? An algal bloom is a rapid and often toxic increase in algae population in a water body. While algae are a natural part of marine ecosystems, in excessive quantities they can deplete oxygen, block sunlight and release toxins- thus turning the water harmful for both marine creatures and humans. In this case, the algal bloom stretches from Coorong to the Yorke Peninsula, spanning an area twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory. How Bad Is The Crisis In Australia? So far, the bloom has reportedly killed over 400 species of marine life, including large numbers of fish, shellfish and other coastal organisms. Beaches have been lined with rotting carcasses and the normally pristine waters have taken on a sickly green hue. What's Causing Algal Bloom In Australia? Experts have said that the crisis is being driven by climate change, which has led to a combination of rising sea temperatures, excess nutrient runoff from agriculture and urban sources as well as prolonged drought conditions. These factors have created ideal conditions for algae to multiply rapidly. Yes, at the state level. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas declared the bloom a 'natural disaster" and criticized the federal government for hesitating to do the same. He said, 'This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such. I think politicians do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities." The federal government has committed AUD $14 million for relief- including clean-up, research and support for affected industries. The South Australian government matched that funding, bringing the total response package to AUD $28 million. However, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has so far refused to classify the event as a natural disaster. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Herald
6 hours ago
- Climate
- The Herald
Toxic algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, tourism
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 heatwave that started in 2024, when sea temperatures were about 2.5°C warmer than usual. The bloom has affected tourism and forced oyster and mussel farms to temporarily shut due to a waterborne toxin caused by the algae, local media said. More than 13,850 dead animals, including sharks, rays and invertebrates, have been recorded by the public on the iNaturalist app. Federal environment minister Murray Watt said on Monday the algal bloom was a 'serious environmental event', but stopped short of declaring it a national disaster, which would allow greater federal support. Reuters
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- Climate
- TimesLIVE
Toxic algal bloom off South Australia devastates marine life, tourism
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 heatwave that started in 2024, when sea temperatures were about 2.5°C warmer than usual. The bloom has affected tourism and forced oyster and mussel farms to temporarily shut due to a waterborne toxin caused by the algae, local media said. More than 13,850 dead animals, including sharks, rays and invertebrates, have been recorded by the public on the iNaturalist app. Federal environment minister Murray Watt said on Monday the algal bloom was a 'serious environmental event', but stopped short of declaring it a national disaster, which would allow greater federal support.
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
South Australian premier declares algal bloom catastrophe a ‘natural disaster' in defiance of federal Labor
The South Australian premier has said the state's algal bloom catastrophe, which has caused mass deaths among hundreds of marine species, should be described as a natural disaster despite the Albanese government declining to do so a day earlier. Speaking to the ABC's News Breakfast program, Peter Malinauskas warned 'politicians can do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities'. The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, announced a $14m assistance package on Monday but stopped short of declaring the crisis a natural disaster because he said it did not meet the relevant definitions under the federal natural disaster framework. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'From the South Australian government's perspective, I want to be really clear about this. This is a natural disaster … I think politicians can do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities,' Malinauskas said. 'This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such. 'There are over 400 different species of marine life that have been killed off or have had deaths as a result of this algal bloom.' Malinauskas said he used the words natural disaster 'quite deliberately' but that the disaster differed from other emergencies, such as bushfires, that Australians were familiar with. 'This is so entirely unprecedented we don't really know how it's going to play out over coming weeks and months ahead,' he said. Watt visited South Australia on Monday to view the effects of the toxic algal bloom that has littered the state's beaches with masses of dead fish, rays, sharks, dolphins and other marine life. It followed pressure from the South Australian community for the federal government to offer immediate support for affected places and businesses. On Monday night, Anthony Albanese said federal funding had been timed 'appropriately' given the event was unfolding 'primarily in state waters'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Events do occur in our environment,' the prime minister told ABC's 7.30. 'What is important is that there be a response. We're responding, giving support to the South Australian government.' The Greens' environment spokesperson and South Australia-based senator Sarah Hanson-Young said on Monday the funding was welcome but 'nowhere near what will be needed' to support communities dealing with the catastrophe. Hanson-Young said the criteria used to declare natural disasters under the national framework should be examined. As parliament returns, Hanson-Young also said she would push for an inquiry into the disaster to examine issues including the federal and state government responses to the event. 'South Australians have been crying out for weeks and months for federal action on this, so I'm glad to see the federal environment minister finally get to South Australia,' Hanson-Young told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing on Monday. She said: '$14m is good but nowhere near what will be needed.'
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Horrific': Labor defends call on algae crisis
The Albanese government has defended its response to the toxic algae bloom devastating South Australia's coastline, saying it does not fit the definition of a national disaster. A $14m funding request from the state government to combat the outbreak of toxic algae – which became known to authorities in March – was approved by the federal government this week. The bloom has caused significant damage to a variety of marine life, bringing industries such as tourism and fishing to a grinding halt, and leaving animal carcasses washed up on beaches within an hour of Adelaide. The Albanese government's response to the algae crisis has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, with Nationals leader David Littleproud accusing Labor of being 'flat-footed'. The algal bloom has been decimating South Australia's coastline. Photo: Tim Joy Credit: News Corp Australia Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has repeatedly called for the bloom to be classified as a national disaster, claiming the response would have been much swifter had Bondi Beach been impacted and that current legislation was not 'fit for purpose'. 'This is a catastrophe, an environmental disaster and an increasingly a community disaster. I am disappointed (Environment Minister Murray Watt) stopped short of declaring a disaster,' she told the ABC on Monday. Questioned about Labor's response to the algal bloom on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said a 'legislated, formalised list of events' would have to occur for it to be classified as a national disaster. 'That doesn't change the fact that it's an environmental disaster. It doesn't change the fact that all eyes of the nation are on it,' he told ABC News Breakfast. 'That doesn't change the fact that for the people of South Australia, what they are seeing … carcasses washing up onto their beaches, it's absolutely horrific.' Mr Burke said what mattered was that Mr Watt was 'there on the ground' on Monday. 'The Premier of SA (Peter Malinauskas) made statements as well yesterday. We're working cooperatively,' he said. Environment Minister Murray Watt announced the $14m funding pledge on Monday. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Watt said on Monday the funding would be allocated towards both short- and long-term measures faced by South Australians, such as beach clean-ups, community awareness campaigns, and ongoing investment in scientific research. '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. 'The reality is, we are in uncharted waters here.' Dead marine life at Seacliff Beach as a result of the algae bloom. Tim Joy Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Malinauskas said it was important to recognise the unprecedented nature of the bloom, which had ballooned across thousands of square kilometres of ocean. 'We've never seen an algal bloom of this size and scale in the history of our country's coastline … I think it's reasonable to assume that it won't be the first incident of its type in this country,' he said. 'The type of investment that was announced yesterday will go a long way in better understanding how we can prepare and plan for these types of events into the future.' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has repeatedly called for it to be classified as a national disaster. Tim Joy Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Malinauskas told the ABC he wanted to be 'really clear' the bloom was a 'natural disaster'. 'There are over 400 different species of marine life that have been killed off or had deaths as a result of this algal bloom,' he said. 'It's been with us for a while (and) it's starting to affect various parts of the aquaculture industry here in South Australia. 'It's always going to be better if we have state and federal governments working collaboratively together and that's very much what Minister Watt demonstrated yesterday, which we welcome.'
