SA algal bloom crisis compared to Black Saturday bushfires as more than 450 species wash up dead

More than 450 marine species have been found washed up dead on SA coasts as the algal crisis is compared to the Black Saturday bushfires, finally prompting a federal approach.

South Australian government leaders will next week brief the nation on the devastating toxic algal bloom as the scale of marine deaths across the state is compared to the Black Summer bushfires.

A report produced by top scientists from five Australian universities found 450 marine species have been observed washed up across the state’s coastlines based on more than 14,000 observations recorded by citizen scientists.

Biodiversity Council member Professor Gretta Pecl from the University of Tasmania said the marine species seen dead on SA beaches was “just a tiny fraction of the animals actually killed”.

The waters off Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula have been devastated by the algal bloom. Picture: Great Southern Reef Foundation.

“Because of the connectivity of oceans and their food webs, the impact of this harmful bloom will massively exceed the boundaries of the physical bloom itself; there will also be cascading consequences for other regions of Australia,” Professor Pecl said.

“The scale of wildlife death nationally from this marine heatwave is likely to be equivalent to the Black Summer bushfires, considering both the algal bloom and unprecedented damage to coral reefs on the east and west coasts.

The report was released today by scientists from The University of Adelaide, The University of Tasmania, Monash University, The University of Melbourne, and The University of Western Australia called for seven actions.

A line of southern fiddler rays on Glenelg Beach earlier this month. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

This included investigating and fast-tracking emergency interventions for species at high risk of extinction or major population declines.

State Primary Industries and Regions department chief executive Professor Mehdi Doroudi said while there were about 400 different species affected by the bloom the deaths were not occurring in the same way as a bushfire where all were killed in its path.

Commenting after a meeting of the Harmful Algal Bloom Taskforce, Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said department chiefs would brief their counterparts in states and territories across the country next week.

This included an update on the new $2m national testing laboratory that was expected to be established in SA to cut the “seven-to-eight day” lag in water testing results currently being delivered from New Zealand.

Turtles join animal carnage

A dead turtle washed up on an Adelaide beach has shocked conservationists as the state’s deadly algae bloom continues to take its toll.

The algal bloom has wreaked havoc on South Australia’s marine ecosystem as experts warn the state’s oceans will “carry the scars” for years.

On Wednesday, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation Australia posted a photo on social media of a dead turtle.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation Australia posted a photo on social media of a dead turtle washed up at Kingston Park. Picture: Facebook

The leatherback sea turtle is believed to have washed up at Kingston Park on the Holdfast Bay coastline in Adelaide’s south.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation is a public charity which aims to support, educate, and raise awareness on ocean conservationists.

“Now we add turtles to the casualty list,” the foundation posted.

Shark Watch SA posted a video of two men attempting to save a gummy shark on the shore on an SA beach. Picture: Facebook

“There’s something amiss in the whole harmful algal bloom situation in South Australia. “Animals and mammals they claimed would not be affected are dead or have been impacted. This needs a large and thorough investigation with full transparency.”

It comes as a new video of two men trying to save a distressed gummy shark has emerged online.

“Even if there was the slightest chance of survival, we didn’t want to leave with any unanswered questions,” Shark Watch SA posted.

“Unfortunately this girl had nothing left in her … (it is) hard to see an animal taking in its last breaths. Even harder knowing the scale and complexity of the current situation of the bloom.

Shark Watch SA post said the council arrived to collect the shark who notified PIRSA and Flinders Uni.

Originally published as SA algal bloom crisis compared to Black Saturday bushfires as more than 450 species wash up dead