CANBERRA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A toxic algal bloom linked to marine deaths off the coast of South Australia is larger than any seen in the area previously, according to the state environment minister.
The outbreak of Karenia mikimotoi, a toxic micro-algae, was first reported in March after thick foam and dead fish washed up on beaches on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide.
Susan Close, South Australia's Minister for the Environment, said on Thursday that the outbreak has grown to be "not far off" the size of the nearby Kangaroo Island, which has an area of 4,400 square km.
"It is a larger bloom than we have ever seen before," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"We're talking about a very large algal bloom with a significant impact on marine life."
Authorities are investigating if the algae caused the death of a three-meter white shark that washed up on a beach in Adelaide's western suburbs on Monday.
Two other sharks were reported dead at South Australian beaches in April. In separate incidents, rays, giant cuttlefish, octopuses and a penguin have washed up dead on beaches since the bloom was reported.
A volunteer marine researcher was hospitalized on Friday after being barbed by a stingray while surveying the impact of the algae on the marine ecosystem on the Yorke Peninsula west of Adelaide.
Close said that the outbreak was being driven by a marine heatwave and the only thing that would break it up is a change in the weather that would bring strong westerly winds.
"We need a big change in weather to break this thing up; there is nothing we can do to precipitate this," she said.
The state government said in April that the bloom would be unpredictable and advised people to avoid swimming at beaches where there is discolored water and foam. Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号