So this is big.

So this is big.

We have received the preliminary findings into the cause of the algal bloom. Now, obviously everybody knows that the state has been undergoing what's been called a marine heat wave, where sea temperatures are about two and a half degree centigrade warmer than usual. That, combined with calm conditions, light winds, and small swells, has made a perfect environment for the Alga de gray. But there's two other factors that the experts believe have contributed to it as well. They are the twenty twenty two to twenty three River Murray floods, which washed extra nutrients into the sea, giving this big bloom plenty of tucker to thrive on. And then on top of that, what's been called an unprecedented cold water upwelling that occurred in the summer of twenty three twenty four, which has brought nutrient rich water up to the surface. We've got the Minister for Environment and Water, doctor Seusan, close on the line now. Minister, good morning, and thanks for joining us for breaking at eight. I know these are a preliminary findings, but it does sort of create a picture of almost a perfect storm for this bloom to grow, doesn't it.

We have received the preliminary findings into the cause of the algal bloom. Now, obviously everybody knows that the state has been undergoing what's been called a marine heat wave, where sea temperatures are about two and a half degree centigrade warmer than usual. That, combined with calm conditions, light winds, and small swells, has made a perfect environment for the Alga de gray. But there's two other factors that the experts believe have contributed to it as well. They are the twenty twenty two to twenty three River Murray floods, which washed extra nutrients into the sea, giving this big bloom plenty of tucker to thrive on. And then on top of that, what's been called an unprecedented cold water upwelling that occurred in the summer of twenty three twenty four, which has brought nutrient rich water up to the surface. We've got the Minister for Environment and Water, doctor Seusan, close on the line now. Minister, good morning, and thanks for joining us for breaking at eight. I know these are a preliminary findings, but it does sort of create a picture of almost a perfect storm for this bloom to grow, doesn't it.

You've nailed it exactly.

You've nailed it exactly.

It's like all of the.

It's like all of the.

Conditions that suit this little creature happened off our coastline, and the real challenge for us is that most of them haven't really shifted enough yet, so that's why we've still got it hanging around. Had a brilliant storm last weekend, which obviously helped deal with it to a degree, but nowhere near enough. And the good thing is that what we are seeing is that the water temperatures are steadily dropping and taking out that extra heat is definitely going to help. What we do need is a bit more of the winter that we had a little while ago, So we need more winds. Rains always good because we're in a drought, but more of those winds and really cold temperatures to help see this thing off.

Conditions that suit this little creature happened off our coastline, and the real challenge for us is that most of them haven't really shifted enough yet, so that's why we've still got it hanging around. Had a brilliant storm last weekend, which obviously helped deal with it to a degree, but nowhere near enough. And the good thing is that what we are seeing is that the water temperatures are steadily dropping and taking out that extra heat is definitely going to help. What we do need is a bit more of the winter that we had a little while ago, So we need more winds. Rains always good because we're in a drought, but more of those winds and really cold temperatures to help see this thing off.

We've we've had cold in the mornings for the last week or so, now quite cold today, is still cold now in town. So do the experts think that temperature alone will get things back to normal? But as a follow up to that, are you worried and are they worried? That we will be seeing more of these things in future as the ocean temperature sits at a higher level than the normal.

We've we've had cold in the mornings for the last week or so, now quite cold today, is still cold now in town. So do the experts think that temperature alone will get things back to normal? But as a follow up to that, are you worried and are they worried? That we will be seeing more of these things in future as the ocean temperature sits at a higher level than the normal.

Yeah, exactly. Look, the one reason we can't say definitively, oh, yes, the temperature changes and it goes immediately, is that these blooms are pretty rare. We haven't had one like this, and the world hasn't seen many that are this big and this persistent. So we're hopeful that just the dropping temperature, which as you say, we're experiencing on land, it's already evident in the sea, will make a big difference. But I think we're also hoping that if we start to get those proper winds that we usually get in winter, that that will have been seas that push it out. Unfortunately, the storm that we had pushed quite a bit of it around rather than out into the deeper ocean, and that's where we've seen it pop up in places that it hadn't been before. But yeah, this is very likely to happen again. A lot of the warming that's happened on the Earth in the last few years has happened in the ocean, so we haven't necessarily noticed it as much because it's been absorbed by the ocean, but it does mean that that environment is changing quite a bit. And when you get a persistent heat wave like that which is persistent for a period of time, added to very very still weather patterns. So this consistent series of highs that we've had that meant that we haven't had much wind on land. That combination is a really bad combination if you're trying to get rid of something in the sea. And as you say that, those nutrients just fed the algae and they took off, and once they're there, they're quite hard to get rid of completely. So we should see this bloom break up dissipate, but some of those the little critters will persist in. That's where we're quite worried about the Korrong because it looks like it may have made its way into the North Lagoon. We're doing the water testing. That's why I'm not saying definitively, but it really does look like that's likely. And once it's in a body of water like that doesn't move around as much as we would like it too, then you worry that it'll hang around for a fair bit and do quite a bit of damage on the way.

Yeah, exactly. Look, the one reason we can't say definitively, oh, yes, the temperature changes and it goes immediately, is that these blooms are pretty rare. We haven't had one like this, and the world hasn't seen many that are this big and this persistent. So we're hopeful that just the dropping temperature, which as you say, we're experiencing on land, it's already evident in the sea, will make a big difference. But I think we're also hoping that if we start to get those proper winds that we usually get in winter, that that will have been seas that push it out. Unfortunately, the storm that we had pushed quite a bit of it around rather than out into the deeper ocean, and that's where we've seen it pop up in places that it hadn't been before. But yeah, this is very likely to happen again. A lot of the warming that's happened on the Earth in the last few years has happened in the ocean, so we haven't necessarily noticed it as much because it's been absorbed by the ocean, but it does mean that that environment is changing quite a bit. And when you get a persistent heat wave like that which is persistent for a period of time, added to very very still weather patterns. So this consistent series of highs that we've had that meant that we haven't had much wind on land. That combination is a really bad combination if you're trying to get rid of something in the sea. And as you say that, those nutrients just fed the algae and they took off, and once they're there, they're quite hard to get rid of completely. So we should see this bloom break up dissipate, but some of those the little critters will persist in. That's where we're quite worried about the Korrong because it looks like it may have made its way into the North Lagoon. We're doing the water testing. That's why I'm not saying definitively, but it really does look like that's likely. And once it's in a body of water like that doesn't move around as much as we would like it too, then you worry that it'll hang around for a fair bit and do quite a bit of damage on the way.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I was going to ask you about that, Minister, because we'd a marine biologist on seven last night that made the point the Korongs like Hungry Jack's for Algi like this, it doesn't go anywhere and it's not going to be broken up by a storm like we It might have been a larger, more open body of water. So if the worst, presumably you're planning for the worst right now. If it does appear, there are we at at the whim of nature with regard to it breaking up? Is there something that can be done to try and get it out of that really sensitive and important area of South Australia.

I was going to ask you about that, Minister, because we'd a marine biologist on seven last night that made the point the Korongs like Hungry Jack's for Algi like this, it doesn't go anywhere and it's not going to be broken up by a storm like we It might have been a larger, more open body of water. So if the worst, presumably you're planning for the worst right now. If it does appear, there are we at at the whim of nature with regard to it breaking up? Is there something that can be done to try and get it out of that really sensitive and important area of South Australia.

Sort of larger bloom that we've experienced. It has really been the whim of nature because it is so big and in big open ocean, But that may also be true for the kour But we are looking at what can be done. So is it possible that enough water could be sent down the murray to help flush it out. We're looking at that and that's where the scientists are kind of scrabbling to catch up with an event like this, which is for us unprecedented. But I think we're not assuming that it'll be easy to do that. So we've got to look into We've got to try to do everything we can. But can I just say one of the things, because I'm often saying on the media that we're at the whim of nature with this thing. There's nothing that we can do to break it up, and that is largely absolutely true. But it's not that we can't do anything. So what we can do is, first of all, make sure that people know what's going on, and people are telling us, so they're letting us know. If they see dead fish, we get along and we test it so we know what's going on, and we can warn aquaculture, for example, if it's heading their way, they can move their operations. But the other thing important is the kind of prevention where the healthier the environment is to start with, the more resilient it is. And it's just a big reminder that we need to pay attention to how strong our environment is. In the fact that the emoding basin has not been well treated for a very long time, although that is definitely getting better lately, does mean that a place like the cur On, which should be a really resilient, healthy bit of the environment for the last forty years at least, has not been very healthy and that makes it more vulnerable. So just a little reminder from nature that we need to look after another nature so that she can cope with stresses like this one.

Sort of larger bloom that we've experienced. It has really been the whim of nature because it is so big and in big open ocean, But that may also be true for the kour But we are looking at what can be done. So is it possible that enough water could be sent down the murray to help flush it out. We're looking at that and that's where the scientists are kind of scrabbling to catch up with an event like this, which is for us unprecedented. But I think we're not assuming that it'll be easy to do that. So we've got to look into We've got to try to do everything we can. But can I just say one of the things, because I'm often saying on the media that we're at the whim of nature with this thing. There's nothing that we can do to break it up, and that is largely absolutely true. But it's not that we can't do anything. So what we can do is, first of all, make sure that people know what's going on, and people are telling us, so they're letting us know. If they see dead fish, we get along and we test it so we know what's going on, and we can warn aquaculture, for example, if it's heading their way, they can move their operations. But the other thing important is the kind of prevention where the healthier the environment is to start with, the more resilient it is. And it's just a big reminder that we need to pay attention to how strong our environment is. In the fact that the emoding basin has not been well treated for a very long time, although that is definitely getting better lately, does mean that a place like the cur On, which should be a really resilient, healthy bit of the environment for the last forty years at least, has not been very healthy and that makes it more vulnerable. So just a little reminder from nature that we need to look after another nature so that she can cope with stresses like this one.

Well, I have to pull the plug on a few Queensland cotton farms.

Well, I have to pull the plug on a few Queensland cotton farms.

Well, if the other states had been more cooperative earlier, we would all be a lot better off because only regates are so efficient. We've been amazing in South Australia and it has been really frustrating with the other states.

Well, if the other states had been more cooperative earlier, we would all be a lot better off because only regates are so efficient. We've been amazing in South Australia and it has been really frustrating with the other states.

Yeah, yeah, totally, thank you. Doctor klais the Minister for Environment and what I as.

Yeah, yeah, totally, thank you. Doctor klais the Minister for Environment and what I as.

Part of breaking it out too, we wanted just to check in on some of these areas that have been affected. Rowanna Horbelt runs rad k I tours Rowana. Good morning to you. You've now you've been out and had a look. What's your assessment of the outco bloom around Ki.

Part of breaking it out too, we wanted just to check in on some of these areas that have been affected. Rowanna Horbelt runs rad k I tours Rowana. Good morning to you. You've now you've been out and had a look. What's your assessment of the outco bloom around Ki.

Yeah, we've actually been out the entire time that algae Brim has been here. We run a citizen science venture that goes all up along the northwestern coast of Kangaro Island and we document everything we see along the way. So we've seen the absolute dismal beginnings of the bloom. It started around beginning end of March here for us and has been ongoing. But what was good to see positives are there. We actually went diving with the Great Southern Refoundation in last week and in a lot of areas where that big storm did hit our coast, it is dissipating a lot, so the big phone banks are no longer there, There's not as many particles in the water, so it was and there was so much life down there. Even saw a weirdy sea dragon and all of the usual contenders down there as the big Groper and things like that, so it was very positive experience. But it was definitely still there, so it's still a smoldering bushlop, but it was positive to see.

Yeah, we've actually been out the entire time that algae Brim has been here. We run a citizen science venture that goes all up along the northwestern coast of Kangaro Island and we document everything we see along the way. So we've seen the absolute dismal beginnings of the bloom. It started around beginning end of March here for us and has been ongoing. But what was good to see positives are there. We actually went diving with the Great Southern Refoundation in last week and in a lot of areas where that big storm did hit our coast, it is dissipating a lot, so the big phone banks are no longer there, There's not as many particles in the water, so it was and there was so much life down there. Even saw a weirdy sea dragon and all of the usual contenders down there as the big Groper and things like that, so it was very positive experience. But it was definitely still there, so it's still a smoldering bushlop, but it was positive to see.

That's good news. Thank you, Rowanna. Let's go to the kor Wrong. Glen runs a koor Wrong wild seafood. Glenn, you just heard from the environment minister. What have you seen with your own eyes and what are your concerns about the kor Wrong.

That's good news. Thank you, Rowanna. Let's go to the kor Wrong. Glen runs a koor Wrong wild seafood. Glenn, you just heard from the environment minister. What have you seen with your own eyes and what are your concerns about the kor Wrong.

Well, firstly, we knew we were pretty sure this was coming as soon as we had a big wind event that's going to push sea water in. It hasn't dissipated outside. We've got westerly winds that's going to be pushing it back toward the Korong, So the chance of it not getting in the Kurral was really low. The thing that I want to stress here is that if I can see this as just a fisherman, I'm not a well educated person, you know, Like I don't needed to agreed to see this. The people that have this as their job, why couldn't they see this. I was calling for a freshwater relief to be let go. Now this brevets tocsin dina flagelet doesn't do well in fresh water, and it doesn't do well in hypersaline water. So we've got hypersaline water in the south of the lagoon. We've got then if you've released water fresh water in the northern section of the lagoon, you're giving as many putting, as many things in place beforehand to make it tough for this critter. So you can't stop it coming in. And I'm not suggesting that that would stop it coming in, but you can make it harder for this credit. You can make a refuge area by having this freshwater mix because that will be put south as well, and that will mix with that hyper so long water. I've been calling and calling and calling for this to happen for several years. At the right time to help their south again and it just doesn't happen. So I'm seeing really really bad management of how the water is put into the Kurral.

Well, firstly, we knew we were pretty sure this was coming as soon as we had a big wind event that's going to push sea water in. It hasn't dissipated outside. We've got westerly winds that's going to be pushing it back toward the Korong, So the chance of it not getting in the Kurral was really low. The thing that I want to stress here is that if I can see this as just a fisherman, I'm not a well educated person, you know, Like I don't needed to agreed to see this. The people that have this as their job, why couldn't they see this. I was calling for a freshwater relief to be let go. Now this brevets tocsin dina flagelet doesn't do well in fresh water, and it doesn't do well in hypersaline water. So we've got hypersaline water in the south of the lagoon. We've got then if you've released water fresh water in the northern section of the lagoon, you're giving as many putting, as many things in place beforehand to make it tough for this critter. So you can't stop it coming in. And I'm not suggesting that that would stop it coming in, but you can make it harder for this credit. You can make a refuge area by having this freshwater mix because that will be put south as well, and that will mix with that hyper so long water. I've been calling and calling and calling for this to happen for several years. At the right time to help their south again and it just doesn't happen. So I'm seeing really really bad management of how the water is put into the Kurral.

And I think you said yourself short Glenn, that was a really very intelligent and informed explanation from a Blake's clearly who knows this area like the back of his hand. And thanks for sharing it with us. That was Glenn from Kurrong Wild Seafood and also Rohanna from rad Ki Tour, So good to get a bit of clarity around exactly what is going on.

And I think you said yourself short Glenn, that was a really very intelligent and informed explanation from a Blake's clearly who knows this area like the back of his hand. And thanks for sharing it with us. That was Glenn from Kurrong Wild Seafood and also Rohanna from rad Ki Tour, So good to get a bit of clarity around exactly what is going on.

I don't like the noises that they're making about the Kurrong No, it sounds really concerning.

I don't like the noises that they're making about the Kurrong No, it sounds really concerning.

Well, I mean if a picture tells a thousand words, look at the photos at the tier up on its website.

Well, I mean if a picture tells a thousand words, look at the photos at the tier up on its website.

We were hoping any storm could blow this and break this thing up in any way if it gets in the Korong. It can't be broken up and blown a part in any way because one specific way it would have to go back out and that seems flushing it out. Yeah, that's right, that would seem problematic at best

We were hoping any storm could blow this and break this thing up in any way if it gets in the Korong. It can't be broken up and blown a part in any way because one specific way it would have to go back out and that seems flushing it out. Yeah, that's right, that would seem problematic at best