South Australia Toxic Algal Bloom Kills 12,000 Marine Animals

South Australia is facing a severe toxic algal bloom caused by the microalgae Karenia mikimotoi, which has devastated marine life along thousands of kilometers of coastline, killing over 12,000 animals from nearly 400 species. The bloom, first identified in March and linked to extreme flooding in 2022, has expanded to an area nearly the size of Kangaroo Island, turning large ocean areas into dead zones with oxygen-depleted water. Both state and federal governments have committed $28 million collectively to support industry recovery, scientific research, monitoring, community aid, and clean-up efforts, including the establishment of a new national testing laboratory. Despite the ecological disaster and widespread marine mortality, the federal government has not declared the situation a natural disaster, as the algal bloom does not meet the existing criteria for such declarations. Environment Minister Murray Watt acknowledged the crisis as a serious event and emphasized ongoing government support, while experts warn that natural factors like cooler water temperatures and storms have not curbed the bloom's spread. The crisis has severely impacted fisheries and coastal communities, prompting public information campaigns and financial relief measures for affected businesses and fishers.