Businesses and tourism operators along South Australia's coastline have received a significant and timely boost ahead of the crucial holiday season, with widespread clearing of a devastating toxic algal bloom.
Beaches Clear as Algae Recedes
In a promising weekly update, authorities confirmed that key sites including the Port River St Kilda Boat Ramp, Port River Garden Island Boat Ramp, and the West Lakes Loch‑side Footbridge are now completely clear. Testing registered zero levels of the harmful algal species Karenia, which was first detected off the Fleurieu Peninsula back in March.
This positive development means all 21 metropolitan beaches are now mostly cleared of the toxic outbreak. Professor Mike Steer, Executive Director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), hailed the latest results as the best seen in some time.
"Cell counts have been consistently low for a couple of weeks now — a positive sign," Professor Steer said. "Chlorophyll levels are returning to natural levels, which is fantastic to see."
Devastating Impact on Marine Life and Communities
The bloom, which at its peak spanned an estimated 4,500 square kilometres, has had catastrophic consequences. It has killed tens of thousands of fish and other marine creatures, with regular reports of rotten carcasses washing ashore for months.
The toxic effects extended beyond the water, with coastal residents reporting respiratory issues. Surfers described the air quality as akin to "opening a bag of salt and vinegar chips and breathing in heavily."
The crisis deeply eroded public confidence, severely impacting seaside communities and economies, despite safety advice from SA government authorities stating the algae would not have a toxic effect on humans.
Tragically, marine deaths continue to be linked to the outbreak. The total number of fatalities across SA is expected to hit 100,000 in the coming days. This week, a young humpback whale, estimated to be just 18 months old, was found at Kangaroo Island, alongside large rays that washed up on Wednesday.
Recovery Efforts and Cautious Optimism
In response to the economic damage, the state government has announced a multi-million-dollar voucher scheme aimed at attracting tens of thousands of holidaymakers back to the coast. This is in addition to millions in grants and support packages already offered to struggling businesses, particularly those around the Fleurieu Peninsula and parts of the Yorke Peninsula where the bloom's threat lingered.
Monitoring data shows encouraging trends: fish deaths have dropped by around 50 per cent on the northern metropolitan coast, and the overall footprint of the bloom has shrunk dramatically compared to six weeks ago.
Professor Steer noted the trend was "looking positive at this stage," but emphasised that monitoring will continue. The cause of recent deaths, including that of the humpback whale, remains under investigation.
