Latest news with #environmentalcrisis
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Experts call for government help over toxic algal bloom, as Watt visits SA
The Federal Agricultural Minister is heading to South Australia today in response to desperate pleas for help from locals to deal with the toxic algal bloom stretching life hundreds of kilometres along the coastline. Minister Murray Watt will be the first federal government representative to see the devastation after years of 'ignored' warnings from scientists about the crisis, they call an underwater bushfire.
News.com.au
20-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘A retreat is not a viable solution': Entire town at risk of coastal collapse after losing 25m of land over a year
An entire Aussie town is at risk of being completely washed away by aggressive coastal erosion, which has stripped more than 25m of land over the past year and put homes and lives at risk. The scenic coastal town of Lancelin is in crisis, with locals saying more than 10m of land has vanished since May due to the erosion process. In some of the worst-hit parts of the coastline, more than 25 metres have been lost over the past year. The once-popular fishing and holiday destination, located 125km north of Perth, is now fighting to hold onto what remains of its beachfront. Glen Trebilcock, owner of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, has launched a petition calling on the Western Australian Government to provide immediate emergency funding and technical support. 'Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,' he said. 'We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.' The petition, signed by more than 900 people, was submitted to the WA Legislative Council. 'The Shire of Gingin, as a small regional local government, has a limited rate base and lacks the technical capacity and financial resources required to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of this erosion,' the petition said. 'We therefore ask the Legislative Council to urge the State Government to support the Shire of Gingin and community of Lancelin with emergency funding and specialist technical assistance in response to this urgent and unforeseen environmental challenge.' Shire of Gingin President Linda Balcombe has also appealed directly to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, though she says the shire has yet to receive a response. 'We're not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we're just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,' Ms Balcombe told 7News. 'We're a very small shire with only about 6000 ratepayers and we've got a big coastline that we have to protect.' Tourism, a key part of the local economy, is also suffering. Mr Trebilcock told 7News six tour groups that once passed through daily have now stopped coming altogether. A popular seaside lookout near his hotel is also scheduled for demolition next week due to safety concerns. The WA Government told 7NEWS it is 'aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist'.
ABC News
13-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Algal bloom 'disaster' prompts royal commission call as impact spreads to mussel farms
A royal commission is needed to tackle the long-term effects of the devastating algal bloom off South Australia's coast that has killed countless sea creatures and is damaging industries, the state's opposition says. The call comes as the impact of the bloom continues to spread, with mussel farming sites around Port Lincoln shut down after shellfish toxins were detected in the area. The "precautionary closure", which came into effect on Wednesday, has suspended mussel harvesting at the Boston Bay, Bickers Island, Lower Eyre and Proper Bay sites, according to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA). The opposition said a royal commission would allow thorough examination of the causes and consequences of the Karenia mikimotoi bloom — as well as the responses so far, potential health impacts, and steps to prevent a repeat of the current crisis. "What we're calling for is for a royal commission to investigate in an independent way what exactly has caused this algal bloom, and what could we better do to make sure that it is managed and to ensure it doesn't happen again." Mr Tarzia said the estimated cost of "a few million dollars" was a "small price to pay". Attorney-General Kyam Maher poured scorn on the proposal, suggesting it was a waste of money to investigate what was "almost universally accepted by scientists to be caused by climate change". "We've already announced half a million dollars in fee relief for the fishing industry and we've said we're looking at doing more," he said. Last week, the government announced what it described as an "initial investment" of $500,000 to support the state's commercial fishing sector. Commercial fisher Andrew Pisani, from Stansbury on Yorke Peninsula, said what had been announced so far was "just not going to be enough". "Stansbury is ground zero. We're 70 days in now — 70 days — and we need some help, help now," he said. "We're not making any income there at all. Opposition primary industries spokesperson Nicola Centofanti called on the government to waive fishing licence fees "from July onwards". "We've got commercial fishermen, aquaculture businesses, tourism businesses that are literally on their knees," she said. "[They] need not just short-term support but they need a medium-to-long-term plan. "This is an ecological and economic disaster." Port Wakefield fisher Justin Cicolella said the impact at the northern end of Gulf St Vincent had, until now, not been as bad — but there were signs that was changing. "Ongoing support's probably going to have to be there. We've all got young families and rely on a certain amount of money coming in each week," he said. Fellow Port Wakefield fisher Bart Butson said he was "not sure" if a royal commission was the answer, but that securing a sustainable fishery was of "foremost" importance. "I wake up at night thinking, 'How long can we catch some fish for?'" he said. "It's just beginning to bite now. We've seen the squid in our area disappear … and that makes up 30 per cent of our wage, of our catch." The push for a royal commission comes after the Greens called for a state-based inquiry and urged the federal government to declare the bloom a national disaster. The state government said it had already established a working group made up of government agencies including PIRSA to better understand the bloom. "We're keen to make sure we're having the best scientists look at what's happening and … not going to lawyers for a royal commission," Mr Maher said. The government last week shut down several Lower Eyre Peninsula mussel farming sites, on a temporary basis, because of shellfish toxins linked to the bloom. The site closures prevent the sale and movement of bivalve molluscan shellfish from the area. PIRSA said the closures impacted two producers: Yumbah Mussels Holdings and Deedah Oysters. The former employs about 75 people, with its parent company saying the closures have caused "uncertainty for our staff, suppliers and our customers". Both Yumbah Aquaculture and PIRSA said there was no public health risk and mussels already on the market were safe to eat. The closures come after PIRSA's regular testing of shellfish harvesting sites detected brevetoxins — neurotoxic shellfish poisons that can affect oysters, mussels and scallops, according to SA Health. If consumed, they can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps. "They have detected brevetoxin which is a neurotoxin that is associated with the Karenia species and therefore they cannot allow the sales of the mussels," Environment Minister Susan Close said. "This is obviously very serious. "What's likely is that we've got a dominant Karenia mikimotoi algal bloom but some other varieties of Karenia in there, and we've seen a couple of instances now where that's shown up." Ms Close said she was "hopeful" that the affected businesses would be "able to survive at least a short period without lay-offs". Asked how long the shutdown would last, Ms Close said PIRSA would rely on "clear test results" to determine when products could be sold again. "They will be frequently testing in order to get mussels back on the shelf once they are safe," she said. Yumbah Aquaculture chief executive David Wood said the harvesting suspension was expected to last "at least four weeks". He said local brevetoxin levels remained within the relevant safety threshold, but added: "Yumbah takes no risks with food safety." "While current levels pose no threat to consumers, further assessment is required due to this testing feedback timing, and the suspension is expected to last at least four weeks," he said in a statement. The shellfish shutdown is the latest in a series of economic disruptions caused by SA's algal bloom. In May, PIRSA also suspended shellfish harvesting operations around Stansbury and Port Vincent on Yorke Peninsula due to increased brevetoxin levels, forcing the quarantine of up to 10 million oysters. Mr Wood said the impact on fisheries was "unprecedented". "This situation brings uncertainty for our staff, suppliers and our customers. "We're working closely with our teams to understand the implications and provide support, continuing to back each other through this challenging time."
Fox News
02-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Honolulu water board sues Navy for $1.2B over fuel leak that contaminated drinking water
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Navy, seeking more than $1 billion after the military branch released petroleum and other hazardous chemicals into Oʻahu, Hawaii's sole source of drinking water. During the incident, 27,000 gallons of toxic jet fuel stored in miles of underground tunnels leaked into the aquifer near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, affecting 93,000 people living near the military's strategic fuel storage facility, Red Hill. The Navy acknowledged responsibility for the environmental and human health crisis caused by the November 2021 jet fuel release, though the board alleges it has refused to accept responsibility for the $1.2 billion the BWS will incur to respond to the Navy's contaminant releases. Residents served by the Navy's water system allegedly suffered serious injuries from the incident, and the BWS claimed its ability to provide clean, safe, dependable water to Oʻahu residents continues to be severely impacted, according to a statement from BWS. Fox News Digital previously reported that some residents continue to suffer long-term symptoms, including Parkinson's disease and seizures. To protect against contamination of its own water sources following the spill, BWS shut down its Hālawa Shaft and the ʻAiea and Hālawa wells. It also implemented enhanced water quality testing, started planning for additional groundwater monitoring wells, and shifted to alternate water sources to make up for lost water supplies. The BWS, a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, estimates the total cost of restoration, remediation and mitigation efforts at $1.2 billion. Board members said they "have a fiduciary responsibility to minimize the burden of these costs to the Oʻahu ratepayers," and will hold the Navy accountable for its failure to prevent or appropriately respond to the contaminant releases, according to a statement. The BWS told Fox News Digital the suit comes after an administrative Federal Tort Claims Act claim filed in October 2023 was denied by the Navy on Jan. 10 of this year. The statute of limitations for filing the complaint ends on July 10. "This is not an issue that will be solved quickly or cheaply," said BWS manager and chief engineer Ernest Lau. "Every action must be taken to protect the purity of Oʻahu's water, and it is only right that the Navy assume financial responsibility for its actions that put water purity and safety of everyone on Oʻahu at risk and caused harm to the BWS." BWS board chair Nāʻālehu Anthony, added litigation was the board's "last resort." "Litigation was our last resort and comes after months of futile negotiation with the Navy, an attempt to recover costs administratively under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and the Navy's refusal to pay for any of the costs incurred by BWS, even while the Navy has publicly acknowledged its responsibility for this disaster and subsequent contaminant releases," Anthony said. "Our steadfast commitment to the protection of the purity of Oʻahu's water resources, and our obligation to our ratepayers for responsible fiscal management compelled us to take this action." As the largest water utility in Hawaii, the BWS serves about 1 million customers on O'ahu. In May, a federal judge awarded nearly $700,000 to more than a dozen families who claimed they got sick after the fuel leaked into the Navy drinking water system, according to a report from the Associated Press. More than 7,500 other military family members have pending lawsuits. The Navy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘I felt hopeful about my daughter's future': the farmers fixing our eco crisis
We Feed UK is a project pairing photographers with nature-friendly farmers to raise awareness of their positive solutions to the environmental crises we face. From all-women worker cooperatives in Edinburgh to traditional fishing practices off the southern coast, these stories touch every corner of the country. Sandra Salazar D'eca founded Go Grow With Love in Tottenham and Enfield, to support women of African and Caribbean heritage in nurturing a reciprocal relationship with local land. We Feed the UK is published by Papadakis with support from the the Gaia Foundation Photograph: Arpita Shah In Haringey, London, Paulette Henry and team run Black Rootz. You can read more here Photograph: Arpita Shah Oceans have nourished us for thousands of years, but the bounties of our blue planet are ebbing. You can see more images of fishers working off the coasts of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles in this gallery Photograph: Jon Tonks Photographer Jon Tonks: 'Being a small-scale fisher offers a few metaphors for life. When the weather tells you not to fish, listen. Allow the seas to replenish. Sustainable fishing means something different to everyone, but real sustainability teaches us not to be greedy, to give nature a chance, and leave enough for the next generation. There is an understanding in these parts, an atmosphere, of people who live by the sea. Knowing when to fish, but more importantly when not to' Photograph: Jon Tonks Sons inherit Scottish farms in 85% of cases, yet over half of UK family farm workers are women. In Edinburgh, Lauriston Farm is run by a majority-women workers' cooperative, who are drawing on the power of local people to restore a 100-acre urban growing site. When it started in 2021 it was the largest urban farm in Scotland Photograph: Sophie Gerrard/Sophie Gerrard 2023 all rights reserved Photographer Sophie Gerrard: 'Our landscape is part of our identity in Scotland. Yet that's a story predominantly told by men. Where are the women's viewpoints? These photographs focus on their contribution. There is so much scope for positivity in these landscapes, with new opportunities constantly opening. This is a movement' Photograph: Sophie Gerrard Incentivised by the increasing cost of artificial fertiliser, Stuart Johnson (of West WharmleyFarm in Northumberland) started to naturally restore the soil on his family farm by brewing up his own compost teas and introducing mob grazing. With dung beetles and earthworms as the crucial collaborators – recycling waste, excreting nutrients and improving drainage – wildlife is returning. Stuart won Soil farmer of the year in 2023 Photograph: Johannah Churchill Photographer Johannah Churchill: 'When I met Stuart and his family I felt hope for the first time in ages. Post-pandemic, with the cost of living crisis, and war and destruction all around us, it is impossible not to get bogged down. This has been much more than a commission: it's felt like coming up for air' Photograph: Johannah Churchill Irish flax has been turned into linen for 2,000 years, or so the peat bogs tell us. But a 20th-century tangle of changing circumstances, including two world wars, was the downfall of homegrown handkerchiefs. After 50 years, Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon from Mallon Farm, Co Tyrone are reviving the tradition of growing flax for fibre. Their 'wee blue blossom' is chemical-free, sown with a 'fiddle', harvested by hand, 'scutched' on a restored turbine, and threaded into local supply chains Photograph: Yvette Monahan Photographer Yvette Monahan: 'The most profound lesson I learned at Mallon Farm is the transformative power of personal passion in creating change. Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon have turned the land from a dairy farm into a biodiverse flax, food and wildlife ecosystem. Caring is growing a plant that knows this landscape, preparing bare fields for tiny seeds and trusting the natural cycle of the earth and the unpredictable Tyrone weather patterns. After 100 chemical-free days, the harvest is pulled and tied by the caring hands of family and friends' Photograph: Yvette Monahan The Black Country's identity was forged by coal mining. From this legacy of extraction, Neville Portas (from No Diggity Gardens) has sprouted allotments now nourishing the earth. The community's circular system of growing food and composting waste keeps No Diggity Gardens rolling. When that soil is left undug, carbon is kept underground, revealing the real value of the world beneath our feet Photograph: Ayesha Jones Photographer Ayesha Jones: 'Through this project, I've witnessed how impactful nurturing the soil can be, not just for the earth but for everyone and everything. Nurturing soil is not just about growing food; it's about cultivating a deeper bond with nature and inspiring the next generation' Photograph: Ayesha Jones Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) is home to the UK's largest intergenerational nature restoration project, Penpont Photograph: Andy Pilsbury Photographer Andy Pilsbury: 'Whether photographing tree grafting or sheep shearing or river surveys, it was always about community. This became the real strength and focus of the work. Every time I came away from the Penpont project, having observed the restorative harmony that was unfolding, I felt hopeful about my daughter's future' Photograph: Andy Pilsbury Fordhall Organic Farm in Shropshire is the first community-owned farm in England. Photographer Aaron Schuman: 'Fordhall has grown into a nurturing farm for the surrounding community who can visit, volunteer and actively engage with the land. Each person is encouraged to develop a relationship with place that is intimate, immersive and 'hefted' to the land itself. This work represents my own profound experience of connection, and the immediacy and sensorial intensity of the nature I found there' Photograph: Aaron Schuman On the organic, 300-acre Strickley Farm in Cumbria, James Robinson is weaving a wild tapestry of grassland, woodland and becks, threaded together by seven miles of ancient hedgerow. Through an intimate knowledge of the species that share this space, regenerative farming practices, and his family's unique hedge-laying language, James is creating an agriculture for the entire community of life Photograph: AJP/Johannes Pretorius Lúa Ribeira photographed trial plots at Gothelney Farm in Bridgwater, part of the South West Grain Network Photograph: Lúa Ribeira
