Recent political moves to expand harmful algal blooms across South Australia has alarmed many scientists and government officials. Professor Charlie Huveneers, the head of Flinders University’s Marine and Coastal Research Alliance, highlighted how ill-prepared the area was for such an occurrence. He tamped down the panic, while still underscoring the urgency of the situation. In response, in July the state and federal governments jointly announced a $28 million relief package. This investment is meant to address the growing challenges of threats from the environment.
The earlier-than-usual detection of brevetoxins in shellfish this year set off an acute situation. Consequently, many oyster farms across Yorke Peninsula were forced to shut down their businesses. In July, an outbreak in New Zealand forced the depopulation of multiple mussel farming locations. This is impressive, this action just covered hubs on the Lower Eyre Peninsula. Scientists say it’s an exciting time to be closely monitoring this volatile algal bloom. They recommend that asthmatics always have their quick relief medication with them if they witness white foam at the beach.
Government Response and Funding Initiatives
In a response to the algal bloom crisis, state and federal government provides immediate funding and resources. They’re working on proactive measures to address the environmental and public health impact. The package of support, which is worth $28 million, is designed to strengthen monitoring and surveillance programs and enhance responses to toxic blooms. This funding is particularly welcome news as worries over marine heatwaves and harmful algal blooms continue to rise. Stefan Andrews, who co-signed a letter to former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek in October 2023, called for increased investment in ocean monitoring.
Andrews framed the need for long-term funding as an urgent need. He suggested an amendment calling for $40 million in the coming 10 years to increase ocean monitoring capacity. He reiterated the need for frequent oversight. This has been vital, not only in determining the impacts of algal blooms on marine life but in informing recovery efforts.
“With robust monitoring, we can track impacts, guide recovery and safeguard biodiversity, fisheries, tourism and communities.” – Stefan Andrews
Professor Huveneers backed Andrews’ push to develop stronger ocean monitoring infrastructure, saying we need to be better prepared for extreme marine occurrences.
Scientific Insights on Algal Blooms
Specialists for the Great Southern Reef Research Partnership have highlighted how surprising algal blooms can be. Mark Doubell, Associate Professor of oceanography, directs South Australia’s oceanography sub-program. The global experts he underscored continue to indicate that predicting algal bloom patterns will remain a critical and urgent challenge.
“There’s other areas of the world like Florida … where they’ve been a recurrent feature nearly on an annual basis for more than 20 years now,” – Mark Doubell
This unpredictability highlights the need for timely testing and monitoring. David Cunliffe, an expert in the field, pointed out that recent detections of brevetoxins in water modify previous assessments regarding toxicity levels. The early advice was that even predominant non-toxigenic species like Karenia mikimotoi were not toxic. New research has flipped that script.
“Our advice has evolved as the bloom has,” – David Cunliffe
Cunliffe highlighted the absence of baseline data that would be essential in determining the negative ecological effects of such a catastrophe. What’s frustrating is you can’t measure the impact of something if you don’t know what it was before.
“We cannot even assess the true impact of these kind of events on marine ecosystems because we lack the necessary baseline data and consistent monitoring programs.” – David Cunliffe
Ongoing Monitoring and Expert Consultation
South Australia is struggling with the current effects of persistent harmful algal blooms. International experts are currently guiding state officials in how to best track, report and regulate these occurrences. Donald Anderson, a noted expert from the US, presented to the state government’s algal bloom taskforce last month and emphasized that South Australia’s current bloom was not unique globally.
“South Australia was unprepared for this event, and Australia is unprepared for extreme marine events,” – Charlie Huveneers
South Australia’s Senate inquiry into the state’s recent toxic algal bloom is still taking submissions and testimony from affected parties. Knowing this will be critical to informing future strategies. The investigation has turned into a forum for specialists to air their alarm and suggestions on how to establish improved systems of monitoring.
