‘Entirely new phenomenon’: Malinauskas hears from fishers on the impact of algae bloom
Premier Peter Malinauskas has declared The Gulf's algae bloom an "entirely new phenomenon" as desperate fishermen report there are virtually no fish left to catch.
The full extent of the devastating algae bloom has been laid bare at a community forum on Tuesday night, with business owners and fishermen revealing they are worried there are “no more fish left to catch”.
Politicians and experts gathered at Brighton Secondary School to discuss the environmental disaster, with Premier Peter Malinauskas revealing the size and scale of the bloom made it an “entirely new phenomenon”.
The forum featured Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier and Professor Mike Steer from the SA Research and Development Institute, who both made presentations on the causes and impacts, as well as debunking common misconceptions.
Mr Malinauskas said it was natural for the public to have questions.
“I think in this country we’ve become familiar with natural disasters,” he said. “A flood, a fire, a drought. These are events that have always occurred.
“Whereas the harmful algae bloom is an entirely new phenomenon … it’s absolutely without precedent in terms of its size and scale and the impact it’s having on our marine environment. And you only have to walk down along the beach to know it’s real.”
It comes as the government starts hiring for a community engagement adviser to focus on the algal bloom. The new role with the Department for Environment and Water is a 12-month contract and will pay $85,000 to $95,000.
A job ad says the role will “provide support by delivering tactics and maintaining communication channels in a way that increases community understanding, support and involvement.”
But Troy Chomenko, owner of Reel N Deal Tackle, knows the crisis is real by looking at his dwindling profits.
Mr Chomenko has successfully run his Glenelg East store for three years but the past few months have brought his business to its knees.
“In winter, business always slows down but at the present time, we’re struggling like never before,” he said.
“There are some days we’re only making $15 a day … like our neighbours will come in and buy a few drinks.”
Mr Chomenko said he hoped the series of forums would provide fishing communities “a peace of mind” to throw a reel into the water once more.
“There’s so much misinformation out there right now and no real clarity on what the solution is,” he said. “But a forum like this should provide some clear-cut answers.”
Fishing enthusiast Tony Hiern also attended the forum after coming to the devastating realisation there was “virtually no fish” left to catch.
“Since retirement, I’ve been out in a jetty almost every day for the past eight years,” Mr Hiern said. “Last year, I remember I had a lot of good catches, including a lot of whiting and flathead and squid, but since the algae bloom came in, I catch one or nil fish out there. It’s virtually nothing.
“And it’s the same for the other people I know. In fact, it’s so bad they’re not even bothering coming out to fish anymore. We’ve even tried moving to different fishing spots but it’s not much better elsewhere. This problem is far reaching.”
Brian Smith came down to the forum to get an answer to just one question: Will there be fish out there for his great- grandchildren?
Mr Smith, 82, said every year since 1998, he’s travelled to Kangaroo Island to American River to throw in a line and see what bites but when he came back two weeks ago, he was empty-handed.
“I’ve never seen it so bad in my life before,” he said. “All I want to know if there will still be fishies for my great grandchildren to catch in the future or is this the new normal?”
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