Algal Bloom Impact on Fishers

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:41): My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer provide financial assistance to marine fishers impacted by the microalgal bloom? With your leave, Mr Speaker, and the leave of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr McBRIDE: Fishers have expressed concerns about the impact of the microalgal bloom and outbreak on their livelihoods. They have asked for financial support such as hardship payments or the waiving of licence fees.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Police) (14:42): I thank the member for his question because I think this has been a topic of interest to pretty much every South Australian, the really unusual event that we see across South Australian waters and the effect it has been having on marine life, let alone on South Australians' appetite to enjoy South Australian waters, as well as questions similar to the one that the member for MacKillop has raised.

What does this mean for seafood? South Australia has such a proud history of producing such high-quality seafood. I have been provided some advice from Primary Industries. First and foremost, I think the message is that South Australian commercially caught seafood remains very high quality and safe to eat. There are some specific closures on fisheries, in particular on oyster growers as a result of detected brevetoxin levels, with those farms confined to Stansbury, Port Vincent and American River, I am advised.

Around 95 per cent of oyster growers are not impacted, and their product is safe to eat. As many of us who enjoy oysters would be aware—I realise they are not everyone's, I was going to say, cup of tea; they are not for everyone. I am sure the member for Flinders enjoys oysters, given his electorate's proud history of producing them for the benefit of the state. I should also say that, outside of oysters, there is a 10-kilometre precautionary closure south of the Murray Mouth for the harvesting of pipis. As far as I am advised, there are no other restrictions on fishing as a result of the algal bloom. Recreationally caught species of fish are safe to eat as well, so long as it is alive at the time that it is caught.

There is a strong caution correspondingly that the government is issuing to those people who might come across dead marine life: that may well be marine life that has fallen victim to this particular microalgal bloom and the toxins that it issues. Clearly, it is not good practice to eat anything that is already perished at any time—if you have found it when it is perished. I don't encourage people to pull it out of the water and rather than going the old Rex Hunt just get straight into it, but perhaps avail yourself of seafood in the customary manner. Don't walk along the beach and find something washed up and then sink the chompers into it, I think is the advice.

Regarding industry assistance, coming back to the member for MacKillop's question, I understand that fishers have expressed some concern to some members of parliament, presumably including the member for MacKillop. The Department of Primary Industries is working with industry associations on this particular issue and the impacts of the bloom on people's confidence to eat seafood or to continue engaging in recreational fishing. I understand that there is a series of round tables that is being conducted.

I don't understand that any other industry associations have made specific requests for financial support, because the closures do not affect the majority of fishers, but we continue to monitor this situation and I will update the house if there are further developments. Hopefully, that development is that it goes away.