South Coast Algal Bloom

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of preparedness for the impact of the algal bloom.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The impacts of algal blooms are well known, and one such as the Karenia mikimotoi currently off the coast of South Australia is foreboding. The impacts are known to include declining fish stocks, closure of fish grounds, decline in tourism visitor numbers and subsequent impacts on local businesses, as well as of course the impact not only on marine health but potentially on human health. The cost of testing, monitoring, cleaning up also must be factored in. We do know that the algal bloom that is currently off our coast is approximately the size of Kangaroo Island and nearly 20 metres deep.

In China in 2012, more than 300 square kilometres of abalone farms were affected by an algal bloom that cost some $A525 million in lost production. In Tasmania, there was an impact of at least $23 million to the local economy with regard to the Tasmanian seafood industry in late 2012 from a similar situation. My question to the minister, therefore, is: what is the government doing to prepare for and manage the current algal bloom off our coast? I note the Deputy Premier's words that we have to wait for it to be naturally managed as well, but what supports are being put in place now to minimise the damage and harm?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for her question. I think we did cover this in a reasonable amount of detail yesterday, but I am happy to add some more information around that.

When I talked yesterday about the round table that had been held several weeks ago hosted by the Deputy Premier and myself, particularly for regional councils, I think I omitted to mention some of the other participants. We also had federal departments involved, including the Bureau of Meteorology, to be able to look at where it is likely to go from here. I won't try to go into that level of detail, partly because I am not a scientist and partly because, of course, this is an evolving situation all the time. The situation of the bloom four weeks ago will be different to the next day, the next week and the next month.

The opportunity to mitigate, from the information that we currently have to hand, is pretty limited. As I mentioned yesterday, it's a reminder that nature is bigger than we are and that we don't have control over everything, and certainly when it comes to our oceans that is very evident through this particular experience of algal bloom. Having said that, what we can do is ensure that we are sharing the information as far as possible between agencies and between experts in these fields, and we will continue to look for opportunities to be able to collaborate with others to see whether there is more information that can be gleaned or more expertise and research that has been occurring, and make sure that we are drawing that together as far as possible.

I am very glad that it has been raised twice within the last two days in this place because it is a significant concern. It's a concern to those who make their economic livelihoods from our oceans and also, of course, to the people who not only live nearby and are experiencing some of the difficulties with their normal lifestyles but more broadly across the state. I think it is something that we would all like to see an easy answer to; unfortunately, there is not such a thing. We need to wait for the weather changes. That, according to our advice, will result in the algal bloom dissipating and moving on. We of course hope that will be sooner rather than later.