More millions for algal bloom support package
The state government’s funding takes the total package to $28 million, supporting efforts to monitor the harmful algal bloom that’s turning SA’s coastlines into a mass marine graveyard.
After an Emergency Management Committee of Cabinet, the state government said it would contribute $14 million to an algal bloom support package, matching $14 million already promised by the Commonwealth.
The package covers industry support, science and research, communications, community support, and clean-up.
A large share of the money ($8.5 million) will go towards expanding a coastal monitoring network that will monitor harmful algal bloom species through real-time sensors, satellite imagery and oceanographic modelling.
A new national testing laboratory in South Australia will be established for algal bloom and brevetoxin/biotoxin testing.
Further, $3 million will be spent on assessment of fish stocks and fisheries, to quantify impact, including modelling ecological impacts on near-shore marine ecosystems and all sanctuary zones using remote underwater video surveys and dive surveys.
A public information campaign will also be created at a cost of $2 million, focused on rebuilding confidence and driving visitation to coastal regions, while $3 million will support a community fund for activities and small projects in affected areas.
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Beach clean-up funding totals $1 million, while $10,000 grants will be made available for eligible small businesses.
Earlier this month, the government announced it would waive licence fees for fishers affected by the HAB.
Yesterday, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt announced a $14 million federal funding package to assist in the monitoring of the algal bloom and the clean-up of dead marine life from the state’s businesses.
He stopped short of declaring the crisis as a natural disaster, as it was not possible to fit the algal bloom under the existing definition of one.
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The bloom of the microalgae species Karenia mikimotoi was identified off South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula in March, and grew to more than 4400 sq km, close to the size of Kangaroo Island.
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It has been breaking up in recent weeks, spreading north into Spencer Gulf, south into the Coorong wetlands and along Adelaide’s beaches in Gulf St Vincent into the Port River, killing tens of thousands of marine animals.
Last week, the state government said the algal bloom had been detected at 12 metropolitan locations.
The Department of Environment and Water (DEW) said the bloom “occurs naturally and no human intervention can be made to dilute or dissipate it”.
Three contributing factors have been put forward by DEW as to the cause of the bloom: an “unprecedented” marine heatwave in September 2024, the 2022-23 River Murray flood washing extra nutrients into the sea or an unprecedented cold-water upwelling in summer 2023-24 that has brought nutrient-rich water to the surface.
South Australian Greens MLC Robert Simms said the package was welcome but was “also silent on climate”.
“The Premier started the day by recognising that climate change is playing a clear role in this crisis, yet his government is still locked in arms with the gas lobby,” he said.
“In the months while this crisis has worsened, Labor have urged new drilling for gas and oil in South Australia, despite experts warning this will make the problem worse.
“The fossil fuel tenders to drill in the Otway and Polda Basins must be cancelled now.”
The Premier today said the package was “a deliberately calibrated suite of measures for the next stage of our response to this unprecedented harmful algal bloom”.
“We have been engaging with key stakeholders, industry and communities to ensure our response is targeted to where it is needed most,” he said.
“As a government, this represents the next stage of our response to this developing natural disaster, and we stand ready to deliver additional support if and when it is needed.”
