Australian officials announced on Tuesday (March 18) that two beaches in the state have been closed due to a large number of dead fish, unidentified white foam, and reports from surfers feeling unwell.
The Chief Scientist of the South Australia Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Sam Gaylard, stated that the cause of discomfort to both humans and marine life could be a microalgal bloom triggered by abnormal weather conditions, leading to the formation of foam covering hundreds of meters of coastline.
“This is very concerning,” Gaylard told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “Such a large-scale occurrence is very unusual. While sporadic algal blooms may occur occasionally this time of year, this scale is indeed rare.”
The Department for Environment and Water in South Australia issued a statement indicating that Waitpinga Beach and the nearby Parsons Beach have been closed since Monday due to a “fish death event.” These beaches are located south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.
“We aim to reopen the beaches as soon as possible,” the department stated.
Reports revealed that over 100 surfers at the aforementioned beaches experienced discomfort after coming into contact with toxic foam. Thousands of fish, octopuses, and seahorses washed up on the shore have been confirmed dead.
Local surfer Anthony Rowland mentioned that since last weekend, many surfers have experienced stinging eyes, throat irritation, and coughing.
“We started coughing shortly after getting into the water,” Rowland recounted his experience at Waitpinga Beach last Saturday (March 15). After sharing his experience online, he received numerous responses.
“Many people contacted me, saying they experienced the same symptoms,” he stated.
On Monday, scientists began collecting water samples from the foam, which is a byproduct of toxic microorganisms decomposing. However, Gaylard mentioned that it may take until the weekend to determine the specific species involved.
He added that recent prolonged high temperatures, dry weather, light winds, and low tides may have contributed to the massive reproduction of microalgae (single-celled microorganisms).
“It is currently unclear how long this situation will persist,” Gaylard noted.
(Reference: The Associated Press)