SA government unveils $100k support package for commercial fishermen affected by algae bloom

A Yorke Peninsula oyster farmer fears fisherman could be pushed over the edge as the toxic algae bloom continues to threaten livelihoods despite a new support package announcement.

Commercial fishers hit hard by the state’s crippling toxic algae bloom can access up to $100,000 in support, the state government revealed on Monday.

Small businesses, including fishing and tourism operators, seafood processors, coastal caravan parks and beachfront cafes, will also be able to access up to $10,000 if they have had a 30 per cent decline in business.

The roll out of the $28m federal and state government package was unveiled on Monday in Ardrossan, after Premier Peter Malinauskas met with struggling oyster farmers – some who had not made a sale in 85 days.

Businesses can apply for the grants from 9am Tuesday morning, with the state government vowing to process applications within 15 days to ensure struggling businesses get money in their pocket as soon as possible.

Premier Peter Malinauskas talks with Stansbury oyster farmer Paul Dee from Southern Yorke Oysters during the State Cabinet visit to Stansbury on Yorke Peninsula. Picture: Ben Clark

Commercial operators forced to close for more than a month – or who have experienced a 50 per cent reduction in their catch over a three-month period – will be given an immediate, one-off $25,000 payment.

An additional payment of up to $75,000 will then be given to those who have experienced a 50 per cent reduction in turnover.

Payments will be tiered depending on how much of a downturn businesses have experienced.

Fishing licensing fees for the September quarter will also be waived, with those fees to be reviewed on a quarter-by-quarter basis.

Mr Malinauskas said it was essential to get the money in the hands of businesses across South Australia straight away.

“This is an important cash grant that puts money in people’s pockets ASAP, where they’ve had a downturn,” he said.

“If you are a small business, cash is king, so we want to get that turned around very quickly.

“This type of industry package isn’t like anything we’ve seen before in the state, it well and truly exceeds the type of packages there were provided during the course of Covid.”

Pacific Oysters owner Steve Bowley said the funding package was well overdue.

His Stansbury business has not sold an oyster for 85 days – since brevotoxins were detected in the water just off the coast in May.

“It’s been no income, zero income, you try and go without any income for 90 days, it’s impossible,” Mr Bowley said.

“We are desperate now, but we aren’t even the worst affected. Those line fishermen, calamari fishers have lost hundreds of thousands.

“They’ve had to spend cash on fuel, manpower to go out there and catch zip.

“It’s a desert out there, the ocean is sick.”

Commercial fishers hit hard by the state’s crippling toxic algae bloom can access up to $100,000 in support. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr Bowley says the devastating impact of the bloom is easy to see on land as well, with many locals fearing the worst for what lies ahead.

“Some of these guys are really, really struggling. I wouldn’t be surprised if [there was] a suicide,” he says.

“The real worry for us is that come summer the algae really takes off and kills whatever else is out there.

“I fear that it could just go bang and go all the way up through the Spencer Gulf, down into Lincoln and into the tuna pens, it would just devastate the industry.”

Oyster farmer Paul Dee called on all South Australians to enjoy local seafood in a bid to build back consumer trust.

“When we come out of this, we have to rebuild our brand, so the seafood industry can get back on its feet,” he said.

“We might not be able to sell our oysters, but that shouldn’t stop people enjoying the seafood that is safe to eat.”

The funding package comes after the state government revealed it would spend $8.5m on a coastal monitoring network that will help detect and monitor the bloom, $2m to set up a toxin testing lab in SA and $3m rapid assessment of fish stocks across the state.

Ardrossan Caravan Park is one of the many businesses that has been hit hard by the toxic algae, with bookings dipping by more than 40 per cent since the bloom hit the Yorke Peninsula coast.

Manager Sonya Fowles said customers were already cancelling their sites for summer – the park’s busiest time of the year.

“The phones aren’t ringing very much like they normally would in winter,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of cancellation inquiries and cancellations for our summer period, from people who predominantly come for crabbing and fishing.

“The summer period is like the cherry on top for a lot of the tourist outlets, and even other businesses in town.

“It’s going to have a massive impact; I think the worst is yet to come.”

Sonya Fowles from the Ardrossan Caravan Park said customers were already cancelling their sites for summer – the park’s busiest time of the year. Picture: Ben Clark

Sonya and her husband Shane, who took over the park two years ago, are now weighing up cutting back staff’s hours just to get by.

She says the bloom has taken a toll not only on the couple, but the wider Ardrossan community.

“We have a couple of essential workers on site, but we only have a small handful, you could count on one hand the amount of tourists we have here at the moment,” she said.

“We’ve done some promotions already to try and entice people over, but our cabins are almost empty, we’ve got some beautiful sea-view cabins and there’s no one in them.

“It’s very stressful, my heart is going 100 miles an hour trying to think of ways to attract other people.

“If people don’t come now and support us, we’re going to be in a lot of trouble and the businesses might not survive.”

Originally published as SA government unveils $100k support package for commercial fishermen affected by algae bloom