Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to visit SA’s algal affected coastline

After months of devastation, mass marine deaths and crippling industry, federal environment minister Murray Watt is set to visit SA’s ravaged shoreline.

Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt will travel to Adelaide Monday to inspect the state’s devastating algal bloom – four months after it was first detected.

The federal government has been under mounting pressure to acknowledge the natural disaster by visiting the state and pledging support to fishing and aquaculture industries.

The bloom, which was first detected off the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula in March, has killed countless sea life and shutdown aquaculture industries.

Dead marine life has been washing up across the state since March. Picture: Tim Joy

Mr Watt, who said he has been in regular contact with state government Environment Minister Susan Close on the issue, will inspect some of the affected beaches.

He said it followed the government sending the head of its oceans and marine division to SA to meet with local scientists and inspect the algal bloom.

“Her reports back to me confirmed the severity of the algal bloom and emphasised the need for more monitoring,” he said.

“My visit today will build on that and will allow me to see first-hand the impacts this is having on the local environment.”

How the algal bloom affecting marine life. Pictures: Great Southern Reef Foundation

Fish are now being found dead on the sea floor. Pictures: Great Southern Reef Foundation

Dead leafy and weedy sea dragons wash up on Kangaroo Island during the algal bloom. Picture: Facebook

Mr Watt said his South Australian based colleagues had stressed the impact the situation was having on the environment and industry, “but unfortunately, this is a naturally occurring phenomena that is not going to be solved overnight”.

SA Primary Industries and Regions Minister Clare Scriven last week wrote to her federal counterpart Julie Collins to seek industry assistance and for the government to declare the event a natural disaster.

Mr Watt last week said the bloom was occurring within state waters and they would continue to support the state government’s response.

The marine emergency has failed to get attention nationally, with The Advertiser columnist David Penberthy saying if it occurred on Bondi even the Prime Minister would visit.

Originally published as Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to visit SA’s algal affected coastline