Toxic Algal Bloom

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question about the toxic algal bloom along the coast of South Australia and its effect on our state's seafood industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Described recently by the environment minister as not far off the size of Kangaroo Island, experts have linked the severe outbreak with troubling recent incidents occurring at SA beaches, including a great white shark beaching itself on the sand at Henley Beach and unusually aggressive behaviours from eagle rays along the Yorke Peninsula. So, too, have almost 50 sick and dying kangaroos had to be euthanised after eating apparently toxic algal blooms.

A recent survey led by marine biologist Dr Mike Bossley found thousands of dead and dying fish attributable to the bloom, and described the finding as 'the most severe situation I have ever seen'. Meanwhile, amid the cancellation of fishing charter services over concerns for customers' health and welfare, over 10 million oysters across six Stansbury oyster farms will be quarantined as operations are forced to close.

There are fears for the $100 million oyster industry and it being brought to its knees as a result. An article appearing in The Advertiser last week quoted Pacific Estate Oysters owner Steve Bowley's concerns, and I quote, 'I certainly couldn't survive 12 to 18 months without a sale, I do not think any of the…growers could.'

Mr Bowley says the hardest part is not knowing, and businesses have no option but to stay positive and hope for the best at this time. While closures like this aren't uncommon, typically lasting a couple of weeks, the culprit behind these closures has said to have never been seen in Australian waters before, and that is the reason for all the angst in industry. So my questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister inform the chamber the steps the government is taking to address the concerns raised by our state's crucial seafood industry, amongst others?

2. What specific measures, if any, have been implemented for the oyster farms impacted?

3 What advice has the minister been given about the likely length of the closures?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for her question. There were a number of different aspects in there and I will attempt to address them all.

The first one—the honourable member referred to the kangaroo deaths. I will remind the chamber of an answer I think I gave the previous sitting week, which was that the disease investigation by PIRSA in regard to reports of a number of kangaroo deaths concluded that the neurological symptoms experienced by the kangaroos were likely caused by phalaris grass toxicity. The dry conditions, lack of palatable food and high densities of kangaroos may have contributed to the poor condition of the animals.

National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers visited the site the week of 14 April 2025 and advised the situation had improved and the kangaroos remaining at the site looked healthy. So, first of all, I wanted to clarify that, given that would not appear to be linked to algal bloom based on that information.

In terms of the various steps the government has been taking, as I said in answer to a question yesterday about algal bloom and on Tuesday about algal bloom, the reality is that this is something that is outside the control of government. This is a reminder that nature is bigger than any of us.

The algal bloom will dissipate when the weather conditions change, and obviously we do not have the ability to change those weather conditions. According to my advice, there has been a marine heatwave, with temperatures on average 2½° hotter than usual. That has a number of implications. When the winds change and the seas change and the temperatures change, that is when we can expect the algal bloom to dissipate.

Earlier today, the Deputy Premier, in her capacity as Minister for Environment, and I co-hosted an update for regional mayors in coastal areas, as well as local members whose electorates are in those areas, at which we had the Department for Health, PIRSA, DEW and the Bureau of Meteorology all give updates—and my apologies if I have missed anyone out of that group—on where the algal bloom is at.

The Bureau of Meteorology obviously is working on the best information they have, which indicated that we might expect more rain and lower temperatures in June. Obviously, on the drought front, we more than hope that will be sooner. But the answer to how long the algal bloom may continue is not one that can be answered at this stage because of what it will mean for those changes.

In terms of the oysters, it's important to note that that is a temporary closure only. It has been done as a precautionary measure and, as there always is, there is ongoing testing because that is a requirement for market access to ensure that our world-renowned seafood is always free from any kind of disease or adverse impact, and I am glad to say we have continued to maintain that world-renowned reputation. Hopefully, it will be a short closure but, again, the testing that needs to occur to ensure that there are no implications is continuing.