Modelling of South Australia’s widespread toxic algae bloom shows the deadly phytoplankton could spread further into the spencer gulf next summer further devastating commercial fishing and marine life. It comes as the seafood industry focuses on recovery following this week's announcement of a 28-million-dollar state and federal rescue package.
00:00These waters on the southern Fleurieu Peninsula have supported three generations of squid fishermen in Nathan Eats' family.
00:09The last calamari I caught was on the 18th of April and haven't seen one since.
00:14He's one of hundreds of fishers whose livelihood has been destroyed by a toxic algal bloom that's caused mass marine life deaths.
00:21Affected businesses like his can now apply for $10,000 support grants as part of a $28 million recovery package.
00:29It's really appreciated but moving forward I think we're probably going to need a bit more of a sort of consistent bit of help from the government if they want to see a seafood industry in South Australia when this all ends.
00:40Time will tell if it's going to be enough. We don't know because we don't know how long this is going to last.
00:45Despite the government's support, calls continue for the bloom to be declared a national disaster.
00:50We would still be aiming to push for a natural or national disaster because it does unlock a different source of funding.
00:59New modelling reveals the bloom may last a lot longer than initially predicted.
01:03Oceanographer Johan Kempf has used his modelling of ocean currents and upwelling to simulate algal growth and behaviour.
01:10He says the model accurately mapped the path of the Karenia Mikimotoi outbreak from its detection to June.
01:16And in a worse case scenario, it predicts the algae could spread further into the Spencer Gulf by April next year.
01:23It can have a wide reaching dramatic impact on the entire upwelling related food chain which ranges from sardines to sea lions and even whales.
01:37He says more testing and monitoring is needed.
01:39If it hasn't disappeared in the next two months, I've got massive concerns for the whole fishery and the mental health of everyone involved.
01:47The state government has allocated $8.5 million for algae detection.
