Algal Bloom

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries about brevetoxins in toxic algal blooms.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: When it was revealed that the harmful algae in South Australia's toxic bloom was identified as Karenia cristata, which produces brevetoxins, I wrote to Professor David Caron, the Endowed Chair in Marine Sciences in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California, asking whether he knew about this microalga. He is a highly distinguished academic and world expert in harmful algal blooms and has authored scientific papers, one of which I have supplied to PIRSA—correctly. While not familiar with cristata, his response—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I just told you that—listen.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: While not familiar with cristata, his response to my questions included this, and I quote:

If it is producing brevetoxins, that's quite serious. Kareniabrevis is found on the west coast of Florida and it is a serious threat to human health. Karenia brevis cause serious respiratory issues. For people who may be compromised in that way e.g. many elderly, it can be very harmful.

On the Premier's comments that the algal bloom was not toxic, Professor Caron said, and I quote:

I have no idea why he would say that. Karenia brevis is considered toxic and it also produces brevetoxins.

On whether people should risk swimming, he said, and I quote:

If this organism is similar to Karenia. Brevis, I would not risk swimming. Karenia brevis cells break in the waves at the beach, releasing brevetoxins into the atmosphere. Breathing that toxin poses a significant health risk.

My questions to the minister are:

1. How can the minister and the government keep telling South Australians that the toxic algal bloom doesn't pose serious health risks and it is safe to go swimming—just wash afterwards—when the government knows very little about cristata and what it can do to human health, after catastrophic fish deaths in Gulf St Vincent?

2. Should the government now be urgently reviewing its health advice until it knows more about cristata, or will it not change its current advice?

3. Does the government have any updated advice about cristata, and is it similar to Karenia brevis?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:24): I thank the honourable member for his question. I think it really does indicate how if one was to rely not on actual scientific papers but, for example, on an AI summary of such, you could get very confused, because the honourable member has just spoken at length about Karenia brevis despite the fact that Karenia brevis, certainly according to my advice, has not been found in South Australia.

If we talk about Karenia cristata, according to the recently released report it says it has only ever previously been reported from two locations internationally: False Bay and Walker Bay in South Africa in the mid-nineties, and a remote island off the coast of Newfoundland in French territory. The honourable member is talking all about Karenia brevis, and we have spoken on many occasions about how Karenia brevis has been the situation in Florida and that it has significant impacts. Karenia mikimotoi is present, according to all of the research, across much of this algal bloom. Karenia cristata is now considered to be the leading type of the Karenia species. I have not seen anything to indicate that the pinpointing of Karenia cristata changes the impacts of Karenia on fish gills, and it's those impacts that kill the fish.