Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Algal Bloom Algal Bloom The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO Legislative Council Algal Bloom The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of algal bloom. Leave granted. The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO Legislative Council The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: On 23 October, the government published a media release saying stock assessment of the waters of Gulf St Vincent, Kangaroo Island and Spencer Gulf have shown declines of some species, including calamari, garfish and King George whiting, particularly in Gulf St Vincent. My question to the minister is: when did the government receive stock assessments showing the decline of some fish stocks, and will the government make this data publicly available? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:49): I thank the honourable member for her question. We commissioned a number of stock assessments. Members may be aware that some of the work in regard to those have been done by commercial fishers who would otherwise not be able to be bringing in an income. In fact, I was at an algal bloom forum last week, I think it was, at Port Parham. One of the commercial fishers who attended commented very positively on how useful that had been not only in terms of the economic benefit but also in terms of the wellbeing of the fishers, who are obviously severely affected by this harmful algal bloom. The data continues to come in, and we continue to assess that data and make decisions accordingly.