Latest news with #ReelScreamerFishingCharters
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Animals may be 'threatened species' after algal bloom
An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024. An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024. An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024. An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Animals may be 'threatened species' after algal bloom
An unprecedented algal bloom may lead to more marine life being added to the threatened species list as the toxic event kills thousands of sea creatures. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. An expert assessment of the impact of the toxic algal bloom has been expedited by the federal government to understand the impact on marine life. The bloom has resulted in more than 400 species of marine life, including sharks, rays and fish, washing up along the coastline. The assessment will determine if any additional species need to be added to the threatened list, which already includes whitefin swellshark, longnose skate, greeneye spurdog, grey skate, and coastal stingaree. If any additional species are added to the list, it may trigger the development of conservation plans. It is a similar process to the assessment after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires that saw the south-eastern glossy black cockatoo and mountain skink added to the threatened species list. "We can leave no stone unturned to understand the impact of this on local marine life, so we can begin investing in the appropriate strategies to bring these important animals back to healthy numbers," Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement on Wednesday. It follows Mr Watt issuing an apology to South Australians on Monday, who feel the government's response to the bloom has been too slow. But the federal government hopes a recently announced jointly funded $28 million package will be enough to fix the damage. The package is expected to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Federal leaders are visiting Adelaide on Wednesday, with Mr Watt arriving for a second time to meet with impacted businesses, industry and the community and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley touring impacted areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit South Australia later this week about the bloom. Local businesses have reported a loss of income as a result of the bloom, with a recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council of South Australia revealing some have already experienced summer cancellations. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," Reel Screamer Fishing Charters owner Kevin Sweeney told AAP on Tuesday. There has been an average $52,000 loss for businesses due to a lull in tourism customers, mostly from South Australia, over fears of the algal bloom. The algal bloom is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
'We're open', but tourists scared off by algal bloom
A devastating algal bloom is scaring tourists off but tourism operators say they are open for business as many companies are left thousands of dollars out of pocket. Tens of thousands of marine animals have been killed since an algal bloom was identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia in March, and has since spread along some of the coastline. Kevin Sweeney owns Reel Screamer Fishing Charters that operates from Port Turton in the Yorke Peninsula, west of where the outbreak erupted. "I'm one of the busiest charter operators in the state but the phone isn't ringing," he told AAP. Mr Sweeney said he is one of the lucky ones to have a second income as a commercial fisherman. "A lot of the other businesses locally, they haven't got that luxury so it's devastating they just haven't got any income," he said. There is no sign of the algal bloom in the water where Mr Sweeney operates but business has plummeted over two months when he is normally booked out until Easter. Business is picking up again but he blames the lull on the bad publicity of the algal bloom that has been misinterpreted as affecting the entire South Australian coastline. "The negativity in social media is the big killer at the moment stopping tourism," he said. Mr Sweeney is concerned the algal bloom may spread to his side of the peninsula by summer but in the meantime, he wants to issue a clear message: he is open for business. "Our waterways are quite healthy at the moment." Tourism Industry Council of South Australia reported nearly 100 other businesses - including tour operators, accommodation and retail - have experienced a loss of income as a result of the bloom. "The businesses are not impacted by the algal bloom at all ... but the perception is the coastline is impacted," chief executive Shaun de Bruyn said. A recent survey by the tourism body showed a 40 per cent downturn in business conditions compared to the same period last year, with an average financial loss of $52,000. Some businesses have already reported cancellations for the upcoming summer and many have been forced to shut up operations while tourism plummets. Mr de Bruyn said the body has received reports that most of those cancelling trips are South Australians as opposed to interstate travellers. "There isn't as much publicity interstate and overseas as to what is happening with the algal bloom," he said. The state and federal governments recently announced a $28 million package to support affected businesses, undertake more research and clean up the beaches where thousands of dead marine animals have washed up. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed he will visit impacted areas next week, promising to deal with long-term climate change impacts. "This isn't something that's the fault of any government, it's something that is a consequence of those nutrients and those high water temperatures which are there," he told ABC News. Environment Minister Murray Watt on Monday issued an apology to South Australians who felt the government's response was too slow.
