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The state opposition says a royal commission is needed to examine the full impact of South Australia’s algal bloom and understand the best way to support affected industries. The Liberals say the inquiry would cost a few million dollars, but it's money the government says could be better spent.

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00:00The commercial fisherman from Stansbury is the fourth generation of his family to make
00:12a living on Gulf St Vincent, but SA's toxic algal bloom has put his future at risk.
00:19Three weeks ago he stopped fishing, now left to support 11 employees and worried about
00:25what lies ahead for the industry.
00:27The people in South Australia, they will not see their seafood on their plate, they will
00:31not see their seafood on their plate and that's what I'm concerned about.
00:36A lot of businesses are going to go down with this and York Plincho will not survive.
00:41Fishers today supported opposition calls for a Royal Commission to examine the impact of
00:47the bloom on SA's marine industries.
00:49Livelihoods are on the line, people have never seen such devastation here in South Australia
00:54from a marine point of view. It's affecting hospitality, it's affecting tourism, it's affecting the
01:00marine environment.
01:02We're keen to make sure we're having the best scientists look at what's happening and
01:06making sure that the funds are directed at those who are affected, not going to lawyers
01:11for a Royal Commission.
01:12Commercial fishermen say while they're catching fewer fish, the industry is also suffering due
01:17to declining confidence in locally caught seafood. They say more needs to be done to reassure
01:23the public that fish caught live in bloom affected waters are safe to eat.
01:28The Government last week announced commercial fishing licence fees will be waived and says it
01:33will continue to work with the industry on support measures.

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