Recreational fishing in SA taking a hit as fishing, shellfish harvesting spots closed at algae-affected areas

Rods are gathering dust as SA’s toxic algal bloom crisis rolls on killing off popular fishing spots.

Multiple fishing and shellfish harvesting spots have been banned while wary recreational fishers are putting down their rods en masse amid South Australia’s algal bloom crisis.

As a precaution, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has closed shellfish harvesting areas at the American River, Stansbury and Port Vincent, while banning the commercial harvesting of pipis on a 10km stretch of sea at the Murray Mouth.

SA Health are advising that fish caught live are safe to eat, but freaked-out anglers in areas across the state, even where the harmful algae has not been detected, are choosing not to fish out of caution and uncertainty.

Port Noarlunga Jetty. Photographer Emma Brasier.

How’s Ya Tackle Christie’s Beach owner Julie Sparrow said people were fishing less, while experienced fishers were catching and releasing instead of eating their fish.

“It’s putting people off, because they just don’t know what’s happening,” she said.

Ms Sparrow said significantly fewer customers were shopping at her store at a normally busy time of year.

“It’s been difficult,” she said. “We need it to break up. It’s a natural thing that’s happened, and nature will sort it out.”

Recfish SA executive officer Ashley Dezsery said recreational fishing had “one hundred percent” taken a hit, especially regional fishing tourism.

“People are travelling to regions less, and they’re more hesitant to go away on big fishing trips,” he said. “We’ve seen a definite reduction in fishing trips to Yorke Peninsula, as well as Kangaroo Island. People are changing their behaviour.

Julie Sparrow, owner of How's Ya Tackle Fishing Shop at Christie's Beach said people were fishing less. Picture: Darren Chaitman

“We’re getting a lot of correspondence from people asking whether it’s safe to fish and safe to consume the fish.”

Keen recreational fisher Matt Hobart, of Somerton Park, was at Brighton Jetty early on Tuesday afternoon, where he went to chat with a friend but did not fish because of fears over toxic algae.

“This time of day, this time of year, I expect at least two or three dozen people down here,” he said, gesturing to the three fishers dotted across the jetty.

“They’re normally out here fishing. I think people are just getting fed up because they don’t know how to act.

“A lot of fishing is for people just to get out and be part of something. And when people aren’t part of something, they shut themselves out and that’s what’s happening at the moment.”

A spokesman for the Western Districts Angling Club said algae fears had recently stopped a fishing trip the group planned for the Yorke Peninsula, while Gawler East fishing enthusiast David Washington said he had been forced to look for new hobbies while he waited for the algal bloom to break up.

On Tuesday, a shark believed to be affected by the algae was filmed swimming in tight circles, in a desperate bid to breathe, at Wirrina Marina on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Southern Fishing Charters skipper Jarrod Glasister said “the very sick shark … looked dull, swimming slow and was almost belly-up”.

A spokeswoman for PIRSA said produce from remaining open oyster and commercial pipi harvesting areas were safe to eat.

Originally published as Recreational fishing in SA taking a hit as fishing, shellfish harvesting spots closed at algae-affected areas