Necropsy reports of the great white sharks that washed up dead on SA beaches have been revealed with results showing three had cause of death symptoms consistent with exposure to high levels of Karena spp – one of the algae species present in the current devastating bloom.

Between April and July, nine great whites – ranging in length from 1.5 to more than four metres long – washed up on beaches from Henley to the Yorke Peninsula.

While the cause of death for six of the sharks could not be identified, the reports made the findings surrounding the other three.

Today new Climate, Environment and Water Minister Lucy Hood did not respond to questions about the deaths from InDaily, a spokesperson referring questions to a press conference being held by Professor Mike Steer from the South Australian Research and Development Institute later in the day.

As well as being made publicly available on the Department of Environment and Water website, the results of the reports were shared by Shark Watch SA on their Facebook page.

You might like

Business

Concerns shelved in massive Burnside Hospital expansion

Just In

Qantas plane makes international emergency landing

There, the group also promised to continue to examine the impacts of the algal bloom on different shark species.

You might like

Business

Concerns shelved in massive Burnside Hospital expansion

Just In

Qantas plane makes international emergency landing

“Shark Watch SA is in the process of coordinating an independent shark dissection/necropsy project to increase the amount of available resources examining the biological impacts of the algal bloom on different shark species effected by the algal bloom,” it wrote.

The algal bloom, which was first detected in SA in March, is naturally occurring and is attributed to 2022-23 Murray floodwaters pushing nutrients into the ocean, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water from deep off the continental shelf caused by changing ocean currents, and a 2.5C marine heatwave that started in 2024.

A federal Senate inquiry into the state’s devastating algal bloom is currently underway, with its recommendations expected to be handed down in October.

Great white shark death reports