SHOALHAVEN, AUSTRALIA — The South Australian government just announced its strong commitment to restrict fishing. This decision follows a long-term persistent harmful algal bloom (HAB) that has impacted the region since early 2025. The actions prioritize conservation of imperiled marine wildlife. They even help to restore suddenly depleted fish populations after multiple instances of thousands of marine animals dying have washed close to shore on local coastal communities.
Commercial Fishing in the Gulf St Vincent & Kangaroo Island fishing zones There is an immediate statewide ban on all commercial fishing within these two fishing zones. Beginning November 1, recreational fishing quotas will be cut in half. Though these restrictions have no expiration, they will be continually monitored by scientists through June 30, 2026.
Monitoring the Algal Bloom
Almost two years ago, that’s how we first noticed the algal bloom. It is now raising red flags about the health of the region’s marine ecosystems. Professor Mike Steer, who leads the algal bloom taskforce, stated that conditions in the Adelaide metropolitan area are under close surveillance due to changing weather patterns.
Underwater testing just last month and recent satellite imagery paint a different picture. Of the sites tested, 15 have increasing levels of algal blooms concentrations, nine decreasing, and 73 are the same. In the words of climate economist Professor Steer, these new findings are “reason for some optimism.” Wilson stressed the importance of staying careful, because the situation is still very tenuous.
“This is the area that we’re most concerned about because it’s where the bloom is at the minute,” said Professor Steer. “We are seeing the foaming events occurring when we’ve got strong westerly winds and choppy conditions, and we’re likely to see that a lot more as we go into the November weather system.”
Economic Implications and Support for Fishermen
The extreme fishing restrictions announced have left area fishermen and industry representatives reeling with worry. Kyri Toumazos, representing Seafood Industry SA, acknowledged the tough decisions ahead, stating, “Seafood Industry SA is facing probably the hardest decision and the hardest journey that we’ve had in the history of commercial fishing in South Australia.”
Premier Malinauskas didn’t shy away from these issues. As part of the America the Beautiful initiative, he announced a $3 million investment to conserve threatened and vulnerable marine species. Plus, he announced an additional $4 million for a new program to restock saltwater fish. The premier’s letter underscored the need to responsibly rebuild our fish stocks.
“We’ve now got science that tells us more about what’s happened to fish stocks, and we’ve got an obligation to act to accelerate the recovery,” said Malinauskas.
Local fishermen are concerned about the impact of over-fishing. They are concerned that if pressure is moved off from the Gulf St Vincent, areas such as Spencer Gulf would be highly affected. As T4’s Bob Baldwin cautioned in T4’s foreshadowing of these scenarios, business as usual would not be sustainable.
Future Outlook
The UK government’s new pledge to sustainability follows years of pressures on ecosystems, biodiversity loss and climate crisis. In the opening media statement, Premier Malinauskas made clear the importance of prudent stewardship. While there are encouraging developments regarding the algal bloom trajectory, as McClammery noted, a lot of damage has already occurred.
“While there is good news that the algal bloom is heading in the right direction, there is a lot of damage that has been done,” he remarked.
Malinauskas introduced these promising changes with great fanfare. He will cut registration fees for trailer boats in half starting from December 1, and this will last for a full year! National measures are needed to help our local boaters during these trying times, and this measure would address that need.
“The premier is investing in keeping our retailers alive,” he added.
As South Australia continues a battlefront against this crisis hovering over our planet, policymakers there are still dedicated to real climate action and sustainable development. Fishing restrictions and economic assistance combine to safeguard fish and other marine wildlife. Beyond preventing disasters, this proactive approach is the more fiscally responsible choice.
