Victor Harbor horse drawn tram shuts until further notice due to algae bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula

The popular tourist attraction will remain closed until further notice, as local fishermen grapple with the potential impacts of contaminated fish.

The Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram has shut down until further notice due to the algae bloom. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The iconic Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tram has been forced to close as the Fleurieu Peninsula continues to deal with an algae bloom that has killed dozens of marine animals.

Assistant Manager Adrian Cox said the decision to temporarily close the service between Victor Harbor and Granite Island was a “precautionary measure”, as several staff and horses had suffered respiratory issues on Tuesday.

“We’re just sort of erring on the side of caution at this stage just so we can find out a bit more about it and also work out a bit of a plan of action on how to move forward and work around it if we need too,” Mr Cox told The Advertiser.

The popular service will be closed until further notice, but other experiences offered by the Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Trams will continue to operate.

It comes as the microalgal bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula killed dozens of marine animals, including fish, octopuses, and seahorses.

Local commercial fisherman Rod Ness, 69, who also owns two fishing charter boats, said he hasn’t felt the effects of the algae bloom yet, but has to be cautious as he waits for more information.

“When you’re warning swimmers and warning even people walking along the beaches here to wear a mask, that’s got to be getting pretty serious,” he said.

Victor Harbor charter fisherman Rod Ness. Picture: Brad Fleet

“I’m waiting to hear if there’s any more information, whether this bloom is going to affect the fish that we catch on charters.”

“I can’t take people out catching fish if it’s going to make them sick.”

Mr Ness also expressed concerns that the fish being found on beaches were species found in deep water, not the shallows around the Fleurieu.

“My worry is why are they dying?”

“They’re washing on the beach in the shallows, but that’s not where they live.”

“I would have guessed that they’ve died out in their own habitat in the deeper water.”

Seahorses are among many sea creatures washing up on beaches along the eastern Fleurieu. Picture: Facebook

A sludge-coloured foam and several dead fish have been sighted on the beaches of Waitpinga Point to Victor Harbor, causing a stir in the community. Picture: Facebook

Mr Ness said despite warnings from the council, some people had continued to swim at Victor Harbor beaches.

I was looking at the Chiton rocks and the surf club and yacht club, all those areas that were polluted, and this bloke’s right in the middle of it swimming around,” he said.

“That wasn’t a smart thing.”

He also said forecast still conditions for the coming week might not ease the algal bloom.

“The weather conditions tell me that it could easily get worse.”

Surfers at Tunkalilla Beach have reported similar symptoms to those at Waitpinga, as PIRSA and the EPA continue to investigate.

A PIRSA spokesperson said they were awaiting test results on water samples taken from the Fleurieu.

They also said the “fish kill event” is not expected to have a significant impact on the local fishing industry.

Originally published as Victor Harbor horse drawn tram shuts until further notice due to algae bloom on the Fleurieu Peninsula