Multiple species of fish and other sea life washing up dead at Klein Point near Stansbury on the YP

Investigations are continuing into the multiple mass death events plaguing the state’s coastlines. See the pics.

Sharks, stingrays, crabs and multiple fish species were found washed up on the Yorke Peninsula in the latest instance of alarming marine deaths in South Australia connected to algal blooms.

A local woman made the grim discovery at Klein Point in Stansbury on Wednesday.

It comes weeks after millions of pipis and other sea life washed up onto Island Beach in Kangaroo Island.

It is not known what caused the event at Klein Point or whether it is related to other marine death events but coastlines along the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula have all been affected.

A local from the Yorke Peninsula has found dead sea life washed up at Klein Point near Stansbury. Picture: Jade Benger

There have been a number of similar events across the state in March and April this year. Picture: Jade Benger

A spokeswoman from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) said investigations into the cause of the marine deaths continues.

“To date a total of 14 reports involving dead fish and marine creatures have been received by PIRSA from across the Yorke Peninsula – including Coobowie, Edithburgh, Point Moorowie, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Butler’s Beach, Marion Bay and Pondalowie,” the spokeswoman said.

“The latest report received by the department was Wednesday, from Stansbury.”

PIRSA confirmed samples collected from both Coobowie and Edithburgh confirmed low levels of the algae, Karenia mikimotoi, present in the water.

However, samples collected at Point Moorowie, Port Vincent, Stansbury, Butler’s Beach, Marion Bay and Pondalowie did not detect any presence of the algal bloom.

“This is a dynamic situation as the bloom travels depending on local weather and water conditions and the impact therefore is unpredictable,” she said.

Coastlines along the Fleurieu Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island have all been affected. Picture: Jade Benger

PIRSA is investigating the cause. Picture: Jade Benger

PIRSA is also investigating the death of a 2.7m shark which washed up on the Port Moorowie reef in the Yorke Peninsula on Good Friday – along with a 1.7m juvenile great white shark discovered at Port Willunga on the same day.

The spokeswoman confirmed a necropsy report was still to be finalised and it is unknown at this stage if the incident is linked to the current microalgal bloom.

A dead baby great white shark was taken off Port Willunga beach by fisheries. Picture: Caroline Hockney

The algae event is believed to have been driven by an ongoing marine heatwave, with water temperatures currently 2.5C warmer than usual, as well as relatively calm marine conditions – with little wind and small swells.

“The bloom is expected to remain present until the state receives strong westerly winds, which historically start around the end of April,” the spokeswoman said.

University of Adelaide Marine Scientist Dr Nina Wootton said it was unlikely the deaths would impact the ecology.

“From an ecological perspective our system is quite resilient to recover from this kind of event,” she said.

“It just might take a little bit of time and as long as things aren’t dying that are dominating one section of the food chain it should be fine.”

Originally published as Multiple species of fish and other sea life washing up dead at Klein Point near Stansbury on the YP