30-07-2025
Franklin Harbour oyster harvesting closes due to toxic algal bloom, another area reopens
The state government has closed one of South Australia's biggest oyster growing regions as a toxic algal bloom continues to spread in the state's waters, while another has been reopened.
The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has activated a "precautionary closure" today on Franklin Harbour in Cowell, around five hours north-west of Adelaide on the Eyre Peninsula.
SARDI executive director Mike Steer said it was a "very dynamic situation".
"That [decision] was in collaboration with industry ... on the basis of low levels of brevetoxin," Professor Steer said.
"That will be monitored through time through the SASQAP [South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program], with weekly monitoring and testing.
Meanwhile, Professor Steer said testing enabled Proper Bay, 20 minutes south of Port Lincoln, to be reopened yesterday.
"SASQAP testing has shown those oysters and mussels are incredibly safe to eat," he said.
Professor Steer said SARDI had been using satellite imagery to track the "dynamic" algal bloom for months.
"It's following the circulatory patterns of the ocean," he said.
"In Spencer Gulf during this season, in winter, you start to get a clockwise movement of water … and similar in Gulf St Vincent."
He said researchers are keeping a close eye on the northern Spencer Gulf to see how its highly saline waters affect the community of algae.
South Australia Oyster Growers Association Chair Peter Treloar said Franklin Harbour was "one of the more important oyster growing regions in the state".
The area's oyster hatchery has not been affected as it was based on land.
Mr Treloar said a key aspect that made the algal bloom challenging for industry was its ever-changing state.
The state government announced last week small businesses affected by the algae could receive up to $10,000 while commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders could apply for up to $100,000.
"If there's any upside at all it's that we now know there's up to $100,000 available for growers impacted by such a thing," Mr Treloar said.
Mr Treloar wanted to stress that "the west coast of South Australia is not impacted by the algae".
On July 9, SASQAP closed marine harvesting areas in Port Lincoln at Boston Bay, Bickers Island, Lower Eyre and Proper Bay after it detected brevetoxins in the water.
At least six oyster farms at Stansbury on SA's Yorke Peninsula were temporarily closed on May 8 when PIRSA detected a waterborne toxin caused by algae in the water, forcing the farms to quarantine up to 10 million oysters.
