Fishers slam govt response and call for toxic algal bloom to be declared ‘national disaster’

Fishers are calling on the federal government to declare the toxic algal bloom a national disaster, as Environment Minister Murray Watt sends a high-ranking official to Adelaide to assist the state government.

SA fishers say the state government has not done enough to help those affected by the toxic algal bloom, as the federal government dispatches a senior official to South Australia.

Stansbury oyster farmer Steve Bowley’s leases have been closed for more than two months, costing him tens of thousands in lost revenue.

He told The Advertiser the state and federal governments had “sat on their hands” up until the past month.

“They need to declare this a national disaster because that’s what it is,” Mr Bowley said.

“By getting the Feds to declare a national disaster we can then tap into or these other businesses can tap into disaster relief funding.”

Stansbury oyster farmer Steve Bowley’s business has been closed for more than two months due to the algal bloom.

Mr Bowley said the lack of tourists to the Yorke Peninsula due to the algal bloom was hurting not just fishers, but all businesses.

“Not only will the water be a desert, the towns will be a desert, and the point is that this is likely to go on for years.”

Squid fisherman Nathan Eatts said the licencing fees the government will waive “helps”, but that they’re only “one of many bills” associated with running a fishing business.

“Them waiving our fees doesn’t help pay any other bills or put food on our table or our mortgages or anything like that,” he said.

Mr Eatts said he would like to see a package similar to those given to SA’s drought stricken farmers.

07 July 2025 Squid fisherman Nathan Eatts with his boat at Cape Jervis Boat Ramp. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“We’re not just losing 30 or 40 per cent of our business.”

“We’ve lost 95 per cent in my area and we just want a business when it all does bounce back so we can continue to supply South Australian seafood to the community.”

On Tuesday, Environment Minister Susan Close said the algal bloom didn’t meet requirements to be designated a national disaster.

“At the moment, the federal government is telling us that it doesn’t conform to the checklist of what is a national natural disaster,” Dr Close said.

Mr Bowley said if the algal bloom didn’t meet the federal government’s criteria for a national disaster, then the criteria should be changed.

“The criteria may not be broad enough to encompass something like this, but God knows it needs to be expanded to take it into account,” he said.

On Wednesday, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt dispatched his Head of International Environment, Reef and Ocean Division to SA to assist the state government.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“I’ve personally had productive conversations with the State Environment Minister Susan Close, and we are on the same page when it comes to this matter,” Senator Watt said.

“I am dispatching this senior official to ensure that I have the best possible advice on the situation.”

A federal government spokesperson said the Albanese government was “deeply concerned” by the marine mortalities caused by the bloom and it was working with the SA government across several portfolios.

The Advertiser understands that algae blooms are not eligible natural disasters under the joint state/Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, but that work is ongoing to determine what funding is available.

Line of Southern Fiddler Rays lie on Glenelg Beach. Photo: Tracey Nearmy.

The federal government is also investing $25 million into reef restoration projects, with several sites located in the Great Southern Reef.

The Opposition were critical of the government’s handling of the algal bloom, with Shadow Primary Industries Minister Nicola Centofanti saying it had been “grossly inadequate”.

“These are fishers who are on their knees,” she said.

“They are struggling to put food on the table.”

“They have taken too long to provide any assistance to our fishers and our aquaculture industry.”

Originally published as Fishers slam govt response and call for toxic algal bloom to be declared ‘national disaster’