South Australia’s unfolding marine crisis has now reached Adelaide’s beaches, amplifying alarm over a toxic algal bloom that has plagued the state’s coastline since March. Until late June, Adelaide’s metro shores had mainly been spared the worst of the Karenia mikimotoi bloom, which had already devastated marine life across the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula, and the ecologically critical Coorong wetlands, driven by unusually warm sea temperatures.
But after a significant storm on June 24, masses of dead rays, fish, and rare marine species began washing ashore from north of Grange jetty to south of Christies Beach, making the catastrophe starkly visible to city residents.
“Suddenly, the people of Adelaide and the government are doubling down on their concern,” noted marine biologist Dr. Michael Bossley.
South Australia’s environment minister, Dr. Susan Close, acknowledged the grim reality this week, calling the state “helpless in the force of nature.” She warned that the bloom is unlikely to vanish anytime soon and could easily return, given that its spread hinges on volatile weather and water conditions, making impacts on people and wildlife painfully unpredictable. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Toxic algal bloom off South Australia coastline devastates marine life