South Australia Declares Toxic Algal Bloom Natural Disaster Amid Marine Deaths

South Australia has declared the ongoing toxic algal bloom caused by Karenia mikimotoi a natural disaster after it devastated over 500 kilometers of coastline, killing thousands of marine species and threatening local fisheries and livelihoods. Despite the federal government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Murray Watt, refusing to declare it a natural disaster on the grounds that it does not meet the formal criteria and occurs primarily in state waters, South Australia's Premier Peter Malinauskas has called for recognition of the event's unprecedented scale and severity. The federal government has pledged a $14 million assistance package, which South Australia has matched with an equal contribution, funding immediate relief, small business grants, mental health support, coastal monitoring, and research into fish stocks. Malinauskas emphasized the importance of treating the crisis as a natural disaster to unlock further support, criticizing what he described as political technicalities impeding effective responses. Environmental experts have highlighted the bloom's catastrophic impact on nearly 500 marine species and warned about its potential spread to neighboring regions. The event has sparked debate about federal-state responsibilities in environmental disaster responses and the adequacy of current frameworks to address emerging ecological crises.