The toxic algae flowers of South Australia have killed more than 200 marine species, including deep-sea sharks, octopus and lush sea dragons.
Algae, Karenia MikimotoiIt was first detected in March, roughly the size of Kangaroo Island, and is spread over 150km of coastline.
Since the algae appeared, locals and scientists have been observing the mass deaths of fish, shellfish, sharks, sea dragons, rays, squid and deep-sea species along the south coastline.
The South Australian Environment Minister said the outbreak has grown to an unprecedented scale. “This is a bigger flower than we’ve ever seen,” Susan Close said.
Scientists say it is fueled by ongoing ocean heat waves, fueled by seawater temperatures in mild conditions that allow it to flourish above 2.5c on average.
Flowers, known as “toxic blankets,” damage gills and suffocate fish by attacking red blood cells and nervous system. It can lead to bleeding and unstable behavior in affected animals. “It’s like a horror movie for a fish,” said Brad Martin of Osfish. Guardian.
Crows said there is not much the government can do. “The only thing that breaks this bloomup is that we are beginning to gain changes in weather and strong westerly winds,” she said.
An analysis of over 1,400 citizen science reports, which found that about half of the dead species were rayed fish and more than a quarter were sharks and rays. Cephalopods like squid and squid, as well as crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters were among the affected species.
Although it is not toxic to humans, algae causes skin irritation and respiratory symptoms in some beach fans.
Authorities have temporarily closed several oyster farms and have banned the harvest of Phi Phi in parts of South Australia.
Thick bubbles and dead marine animals were first squealed by beach fans in March after being washed away at the beaches of Wypin and Parsons on the Fleuryue Peninsula.
Professor Shauna Murray, a marine biologist at Sydney Institute of Technology, identified algae through DNA analysis under a microscope.
She said Guardian that K Mikimotoi It was known to produce active oxygen, which could choke marine life.
The South Australian government said the wind needed to disperse algae blooms is being delayed by sustained high-pressure systems.
Authorities still do not understand the ecological and economic impacts of Bloom, but environmental groups will encourage improved surveillance and stronger action against marine heat waves.
Southern Australia is suffering from one of the worst droughts in record time, along with the ocean heat wave.
Close has issued a warning about how climate change is exacerbating the crisis.
The minister said ocean surveillance marked a “full climate emergency in our coastal waters,” with the bloom spreading throughout the area, roughly sized at Kangaroo Island and up to 20m deep.
“These extreme ocean heat waves are not just anomalies, they are new reality. And our marine ecosystems are our first casualties.”
