Algal Bloom

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries on brevetoxin testing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: The Florida experience of harmful algal bloom resulted in the deaths of multiple dolphins due to toxic toxin build-up in internal organs. We, too, have seen deaths of dolphins in our waters during the harmful algal bloom, including one in August at Henley Beach, which featured across multimedia and social media channels. My questions to the minister are:

1. Was that dolphin and other dolphins tested for brevetoxin accumulation in its organs, and, if not, why not? If so, what were the results?

2. Have other species, such as seabirds and turtles, which have also been found deceased, been tested for brevetoxin build-up?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:33): I thank the honourable member for his question. When there is a death of a significant sea creature, such as a dolphin, wherever possible an autopsy is done. That will determine or seek to determine the cause of death. I did not recall the date the honourable member referred to, so I would have to check the specifics of that particular one, but certainly in general I know that we have been releasing as much information as possible as soon as is feasible in regard to the cause of death of various creatures.

We have found that some deaths of creatures have been in relation to what appears to be starvation, which implies that their food sources are depleted. All of this information is constantly being collected so that we can learn as much as possible about the harmful algal bloom, its impacts, including its more, if you like, distant impacts because, as we know, the harmful algal bloom, the algae, affects the gills of fish. In terms of mammals, it doesn't have that impact as obviously mammals don't have gills. However, it is fair to say that we are constantly learning more and more. As I mentioned in an earlier answer in this place today, as the algal bloom evolves, so does our understanding of it. We are very pleased to be investing further in terms of research, and hopefully this will enable us to go into the future with more information and therefore more ability to support our communities.