SA’s toxic algal bloom is unlikely to end

soon

August 2025 The South Australian government says some of the algal bloom that has been plaguing the state’s coastline and Coorong has now been pushed to metropolitan beaches. Beachgoers and scientists have been discovering a wake of dead marine life washing up on Adelaide beaches, including Glenelg, Grange and Semaphore. Marine biologist Mike Bossley has spent thousands of hours roaming the beach in his lifetime, but since Tuesday has sighted species he’s never seen on the shore. “Different kinds of rays and sharks, lots of pipefish, things called ling, which is a very unusual thing. I’ve never seen them washed up on the beach before, and lots of species of fish that I don’t even know the names of,” he said. Dr Bossley says some of the species he has found washed up are creatures he has never seen on Adelaide beaches before. (ABC News) A marine heatwave brought on the harmful algal bloom, causing discoloured water and foam in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and the Coorong. Surfers and swimmers started reporting falling ill after being in the water in March, and countless dead creatures have since washed up all over the state’s coastline. Environment Minister Susan Close confirmed the impact on metropolitan beaches was in part due to recent weather events. “Partly because some of the bloom has been pushed towards us, but also because we’ve had a big storm, that some of the dead marine life that’s come out of the gulf has now washed up onto our coastline,” she said. Source: abc.net.au

Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia