Toxic Algal Bloom Devastates South Australia’s Coast
A devastating ecological crisis is unfolding along South Australia’s coastline, where a massive toxic algal bloom has transformed vibrant marine ecosystems into underwater graveyards. Since March, the harmful bloom — fueled by a marine heatwave — has spread across more than 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) of coastal waters, killing an estimated 15,000 animals from over 450 species. The algae have poisoned iconic native creatures such as longfinned worm eels, leafy seadragons, surf crabs, and even common bottlenose dolphins. Ecologist Professor Scott Bennett described seeing the sea floor littered with the lifeless remains of razor clams during a recent trip to the Great Southern Reef. “100% of them were dead and wasting away,” he said. A report from the Biodiversity Council, backed by 11 Australian universities, calls it “one of the worst marine disasters in living memory.” A Crisis Set in Motion by Climate Extremes The event traces its origins to a chain react...