Millions of pipis and other sea life wash up on SA beaches sparking fears for fisheries harvests amid algal bloom

Even more dead sealife is washing up on SA beaches, with fears the event could threaten an important industry.

Millions of pipis and other sealife have washed up on South Australian beaches over the weekend, as fears are growing it will affect harvests.

With the cause of the issue still undetermined, it had affected coastlines along the Fleurieu Peninsula including Victor Harbor, the Yorke Peninsula including Edithburgh and Island Beach on Kangaroo Island.

It comes after a mass fish kill event beginning on Thursday on Island Beach.

RecFish SA executive officer Asher Deszery said the scale of deaths to bottom dwelling creatures including stingrays, flat fish and cockles is “unfathomable”.

Mass pipi death on Goolwa Beach. Picture: Alan Hall

“There’s been a widespread pipi mortality event and it’s quite concerning not only in the short term but in the long term,” Mr Deszery said.

“If the whole stock has taken a big hit, it can’t sustain the harvest.”

Tests will be conducted in the coming week by RecFish SA divers to determine the cause of the deaths and the range of the issue.

“We don’t know what’s going on below the waterline and we don’t want to wait until it all blows over,” he said.

RecFish SA will work to determine “whether it’s just water quality or just algae”.

Meantime, SA Health principal water quality adviser Dr David Cunliffe said it was aware of reports from the public this weekend “of foam and discoloured water at Goolwa Beach, Chilton Rocks and Port Elliott”.

Mass pipi death on Goolwa Beach. Picture: Alan Hall

“There have also been reports of people suffering symptoms similar to those reported following recent microalgal blooms in other parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula,” Dr Cunliffe said.

on March 25, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) announced that the species Karenia mikimotoi had been identified as the cause of the microalgae bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

“Exposure to algae, including through breathing in algae particles (or aerosols) can cause general allergic-type responses including coughing and triggering asthma symptoms,” he said.

“It may also cause eye irritation or skin rashes in some people, while ingestion could cause stomach upsets or flu-like symptoms.”

Symptoms disappear when exposure stops or following washing the affected area in clean water.

Dr Cunliffe warned people to “avoid swimming in obviously affected areas and avoid contact with discoloured water”.

SA Health, the EPA, PIRSA and the Department for Energy and Water are continuing to work together on the microalgae bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula.