The South Australian Government is leading the response, as state governments hold primary responsibility for managing and monitoring coastal waters. The Federal Government has been supporting the SA Government on this outbreak across a number of portfolios, including Environment, Fisheries and Emergency Management and I have been regularly speaking with the Ministers at both levels of government and with my local state colleagues as well.
I will continue advocating about this to the South Australian and the Federal Government but I also wanted to give you a brief FAQ and links to some resources to keep yourselves informed in this changing issue.
What is it?
The algae involved is a naturally occurring algal species called Karenia mikimotoi . Similar blooms have occurred overseas and locally, including a significant bloom in Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in 2014.
What caused it?
Experts believe there are three potential plausible contributing factors:
- The 2022-23 River Murray flooding washing extra nutrients into the sea
- An unprecedented cold-water upwelling in summer 2023-24 that brought nutrient-rich water to the surface
- A marine heatwave that started in September 2024. Sea temperatures are reported to be around 2.5 degrees warmer than usual.
Is it dangerous to humans?
K. mikimotoi is not known to cause any long term harmful effects in humans but exposure to discoloured or foamy water can cause short term skin and eye irritation and respiratory symptoms, including coughing and shortness of breath. This includes exposure via surf spray and aerosol water/algal particles.
SA Health advises there is no evidence that people with asthma are more susceptible to symptoms caused by these algal particles, however asthmatics are advised to adhere to their asthma management plan should they experience symptoms.
Do not eat dead or affected fish, or shellfish from affected areas.
(Source: SA Health)
What do I do if I experience symptoms?
For respiratory symptoms, provide supportive care. People with asthma are advised to adhere to their asthma management plan.
For skin irritation, patients should wash their skin thoroughly with clean water after any exposure. Patients should avoid wearing contaminated clothing until clothing has been laundered using standard washing cycles. In severe cases it may be worth considering antihistamines or steroids for symptomatic relief.
For eye irritation that has not resolved by moving away from the area, advise patient to remove their contact lenses if used. Irrigate the eyes thoroughly with normal saline. Refer the patient to an ophthalmologist if eye symptoms persist after thorough irrigation and there is no further exposure.
If you have symptoms that are severe or do not resolve, seek medical advice from your doctor. Call 000 in a medical emergency.
(Source: SA Health)
Is it dangerous to pets?
K. mikimotoi damages the gills and gill structures of marine life so its impact on animals such as dogs is less direct.
Animals such as dogs should also be kept out of affected waters and should be kept away from dead or dying fish and other sealife to prevent them from eating them. If your dog (or other animal) has been exposed to affected waters, bathe them.
How can I minimise exposure?
Avoid swimming and walking along beaches where there is discoloured water and foam, or where there is dead or dying sealife. If you do enter this water, take care to wash in clean water afterwards and wash any exposed clothing, towels and equipment.
Leave the beach and adjacent foreshore if symptoms such as eye and respiratory irritation are experienced
If you are a local resident and experience symptoms around your home, stay indoors with windows closed, until symptoms resolve.
How long will this continue?
Unfortunately, nothing can be done to dilute or dissipate the bloom.
Natural events such as this algal bloom cannot be quickly resolved. Similar events globally have lasted weeks to months depending on wind, rain and ocean temperatures. The algae can also lay dormant and re-emerge when conditions allow.
This is a dynamic and evolving situation, with the location and impact of the bloom continuing to shift in response to changing weather and ocean conditions. As such, predicting its behaviour and impact remains complex. Recent statewide observations indicate a decrease in sea surface temperatures in shallow coastal and gulf waters. However, marine heatwave conditions persist in deeper continental shelf areas.
Is this caused by climate change?
While caution is usually attached to identifying any one particular incident as being caused by climate change, the increase in ocean temperatures and the impact on marine ecosystems is something that has been warned about as an impact of climate change.
What do I do if I find a dead fish / marine life?
Report fish deaths to FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522
The following resources are regularly updated and provide valuable insights:
