Authorities in South Australia have closed two popular beaches after dead fish and an unusual off-white foam were found along the shoreline, with surfers reporting symptoms of illness.
Experts suspect a microalgal bloom, triggered by rare weather conditions, may have caused the phenomenon, harming both marine life and beachgoers. South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer Sam Gaylard described the event as “very concerning” due to its scale.
“At this time of year, we do occasionally get isolated blooms but something of this scale is definitely unusual,” Gaylard told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Beaches Closed Amid Health Concerns
Waitpinga Beach and neighboring Parsons Beach, located south of Adelaide, have been closed to the public since Monday following reports of a “fish mortality event,” according to the Department for Environment and Water. Officials assured that the beaches would reopen once conditions were deemed safe.
Dozens of dead fish have already washed ashore, and concerns are growing over the impact on public health.
Surfers Report Symptoms
Local surfers described experiencing symptoms shortly after entering the water: coughing sore eyes, sore throats after contact with the water.
Scientists Investigate Toxic Foam
Marine scientists collected water samples from the foam on Monday to identify the exact organism responsible. However, results may not be available until later in the week, Gaylard said.
He explained that the microalgal bloom—comprised of microscopic, single-celled organisms—may have been caused by an extended period of hot and dry weather with little wind and low tides. A recent increase in ocean swell could be breaking up the algae, producing even more foam.
“At the moment, we’re not sure how long this will last,” Gaylard said.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging the public to avoid affected waters until further notice.
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