Latest news with #SouthAustralianEnvironmentProtectionAuthority
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Toxic ‘sea foam' kills animals and leaves surfers with breathing problems and blurred vision
A toxic 'sea foam' on a South Australian beach has killed scores of animals and caused several surfers to experience breathing issues and blurred vision, said local health authorities. Popular surf spots Waitpinga and neighbouring Parsons beach, some 80km south of Adelaide, were closed on Monday, the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement. The yellowish foam spanning hundreds of metres is likely to be a microalgal bloom, a toxin-producing algae, fuelled by a recent extended period of hot and dry temperatures with little wind and low tides, they added. Surfers reported experiencing blurred vision, itchy eyes, coughing and breathing difficulties after contact with the water. Anthony Rowland said he became 'really raspy' after swimming in the water over the weekend. 'It was sort of like when you inhale a potent cleaning product, if you're cleaning a kitchen sink or something. It hit the back of my throat,' he said. Mr Rowland described the residue as 'a really heavy, dense, yellow foam, with a fair bit of green, slimy, scummy stuff.' 'It is very concerning,' said South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer, Sam Gaylard. 'It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual.' A state environment department spokesperson said the beaches had been closed 'in response to a fish mortality event in the area.' Pictures posted on social media showed dozens of dead octopus, sea dragons and fish washed up on the beaches. Mr Gaylard said they were 'not sure how long this will last', saying there's a risk a small ocean swell starting on Sunday could generate more foam. 'We think that it is probably an irritant, so a phytoplankton with some spiky structure to it but we really want to identify what the species is to confirm that,' he added. Mr Gaylard said that marine scientists took water samples from the foam on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism. South Australia Health said there have been no reported hospitalisations linked to the incident. The region has been experiencing drought conditions, with temperatures reaching a high of 39 degrees over the weekend. Blooms of toxic algae occur around the world and can cause mass mortality of aquatic species, especially fish and shellfish. The toxins can also affect water quality by blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen levels. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Toxic ‘sea foam' kills animals and leaves surfers with breathing problems and blurred vision
A toxic 'sea foam' on a South Australian beach has killed scores of animals and caused several surfers to experience breathing issues and blurred vision, said local health authorities. Popular surf spots Waitpinga and neighbouring Parsons beach, some 80km south of Adelaide, were closed on Monday, the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement. The yellowish foam spanning hundreds of metres is likely to be a microalgal bloom, a toxin-producing algae, fuelled by a recent extended period of hot and dry temperatures with little wind and low tides, they added. Surfers reported experiencing blurred vision, itchy eyes, coughing and breathing difficulties after contact with the water. Anthony Rowland said he became 'really raspy' after swimming in the water over the weekend. 'It was sort of like when you inhale a potent cleaning product, if you're cleaning a kitchen sink or something. It hit the back of my throat,' he said. Mr Rowland described the residue as 'a really heavy, dense, yellow foam, with a fair bit of green, slimy, scummy stuff.' 'It is very concerning,' said South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer, Sam Gaylard. 'It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual.' A state environment department spokesperson said the beaches had been closed 'in response to a fish mortality event in the area.' Pictures posted on social media showed dozens of dead octopus, sea dragons and fish washed up on the beaches. Mr Gaylard said they were 'not sure how long this will last', saying there's a risk a small ocean swell starting on Sunday could generate more foam. 'We think that it is probably an irritant, so a phytoplankton with some spiky structure to it but we really want to identify what the species is to confirm that,' he added. Mr Gaylard said that marine scientists took water samples from the foam on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism. South Australia Health said there have been no reported hospitalisations linked to the incident. The region has been experiencing drought conditions, with temperatures reaching a high of 39 degrees over the weekend. Blooms of toxic algae occur around the world and can cause mass mortality of aquatic species, especially fish and shellfish. The toxins can also affect water quality by blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen levels.
Asharq Al-Awsat
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Strange Foam and Dead Fish Wash Ashore at 2 Australian Beaches as Surfers Fall Sick
An Australian state closed two beaches after dead fish and an unusual off-white foam washed ashore while surfers reported feeling unwell, officials said on Tuesday. A microalgal bloom created by unusual weather conditions was suspected to have sickened humans and marine life as well as creating the foam that has covered hundreds of meters (yards) of coastline, South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer Sam Gaylard said. 'It is very concerning,' Gaylard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual,' Gaylard added. Waitpinga Beach and neighboring Parsons Beach, both south of the South Australia state capital Adelaide, have been closed to the public since Monday in response to a 'fish mortality event in the area,' the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement. 'The beaches will be re-opened as soon as possible,' the department said. Dozens of dead fish have reportedly been washed ashore. Surfers have been complaining since the weekend of getting sore eyes, sore throats and coughing after contact with the water, said local Anthony Rowland, who surfed at Waitpinga on Saturday. 'While we were out there, we started coughing,' Rowland said, referring to his surfing comrades. He said he was overwhelmed by the response from other surfers after posting his experience online. 'Lots of people reached out – so many people have said they're had exactly the same symptoms,' Rowland said. Marine scientists took water samples from the foam, which is a byproduct of the toxic organisms' decay, on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism, Gaylard said. A bloom of microalgae – microscopic, single-celled organisms – could have been caused by a recent extended period of hot and dry weather with little wind and low tides, Gaylard said. A swell has picked up in the area since Sunday, and the turbulence could break up the algae while generating more foam, he said. 'At the moment, we're not sure how long this will last,' Gaylard said.
Washington Post
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
Strange foam and dead fish wash ashore at 2 Australian beaches as surfers fall sick
MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian state closed two beaches after dead fish and an unusual off-white foam washed ashore while surfers reported feeling unwell, officials said on Tuesday. A microalgal bloom created by unusual weather conditions was suspected to have sickened humans and marine life as well as creating the foam that has covered hundreds of meters (yards) of coastline, South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer Sam Gaylard said. 'It is very concerning,' Gaylard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual,' Gaylard added. Waitpinga Beach and neighboring Parsons Beach, both south of the South Australia state capital Adelaide, have been closed to the public since Monday in response to a 'fish mortality event in the area,' the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement. 'The beaches will be re-opened as soon as possible,' the department said. Dozens of dead fish have reportedly been washed shore. Surfers have been complaining since the weekend of getting sore eyes, sore throats and coughing after contact with the water, said local Anthony Rowland, who surfed at Waitpinga on Saturday. 'While we were out there, we started coughing,' Rowland said, refering to his surfing comrads. He said he was overwhelmed by the response from other surfers after posting his experience online. 'Lots of people reached out – so many people have said they're had exactly the same symptoms,' Rowland said. Marine scientists took water samples from the foam, which is a byproduct of the toxic organisms' decay, on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism, Gaylard said. A bloom of microalgae – microscopic, single-celled organisms – could have been caused by a recent extended period of hot and dry weather with little wind and low tides, Gaylard said. A swell has picked up in the area since Sunday, and the turbulence could break up the algae while generating more foam, he said. 'At the moment, we're not sure how long this will last,' Gaylard said.
Arab News
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Strange foam and dead fish wash ashore at 2 Australian beaches as surfers fall sick
MELBOURNE: An Australian state closed two beaches after dead fish and an unusual off-white foam washed ashore while surfers reported feeling unwell, officials said on Tuesday. A microalgal bloom created by unusual weather conditions was suspected to have sickened humans and marine life as well as creating the foam that has covered hundreds of meters (yards) of coastline, South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer Sam Gaylard said. 'It is very concerning,' Gaylard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual,' Gaylard added. Waitpinga Beach and neighboring Parsons Beach, both south of the South Australia state capital Adelaide, have been closed to the public since Monday in response to a 'fish mortality event in the area,' the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement. 'The beaches will be re-opened as soon as possible,' the department said. Dozens of dead fish have reportedly been washed shore. Surfers have been complaining since the weekend of getting sore eyes, sore throats and coughing after contact with the water, said local Anthony Rowland, who surfed at Waitpinga on Saturday. 'While we were out there, we started coughing,' Rowland said, refering to his surfing comrads. He said he was overwhelmed by the response from other surfers after posting his experience online. 'Lots of people reached out – so many people have said they're had exactly the same symptoms,' Rowland said. Marine scientists took water samples from the foam, which is a byproduct of the toxic organisms' decay, on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism, Gaylard said. A bloom of microalgae – microscopic, single-celled organisms – could have been caused by a recent extended period of hot and dry weather with little wind and low tides, Gaylard said. A swell has picked up in the area since Sunday, and the turbulence could break up the algae while generating more foam, he said. 'At the moment, we're not sure how long this will last,' Gaylard said.
