South Australia's algal bloom - all your questions answered

As a large natural algal bloom continues to affect parts South Australia’s coastline, the State and Federal Governments have recently released the $102.5 million Algal Bloom Summer Plan (the Plan), a comprehensive suite of measures to protect South Australia’s coast, back coastal communities and support our summer lifestyle.

Should you visit the beach this summer, and what safeguards are in place? How will coastal businesses and communities impacted be supported? And what is being done to monitor and protect our marine environment? Read the FAQs below to learn more.

First things first: what actually is an algal bloom?

An algal bloom happens when tiny plant-like organisms in the water – called algae –grow very quickly and in large numbers.

The algal bloom impacting areas of the South Australian coast is caused by a naturally occurring marine algae called Karenia. It’s part of a group called harmful algal blooms (HABs), which form when ocean conditions – like warmer water and nutrient levels – let algae grow quickly and spread.

While Karenia isn’t toxic to humans, it has been deadly for marine life – affecting more than 400 species of fish, sharks, rays, shellfish, seahorses and other creatures.

This bloom has had a serious impact on marine life and the industries that rely on it – especially fishing, aquaculture and tourism.

Can I visit the beach?

It’s safe to visit the beach, but steer clear of the water if it looks off. Avoid swimming or surfing in water that looks abnormal, foamy, or where there’s dead marine life. If in doubt, stay out.

For further health advice, visit the Algal Bloom health advice webpage.

How can I be confident about enjoying the beach this summer?

To help you make an informed decision about visiting the beach this summer, there are some extra measures in place.

Extra ‘Between the Flags’ beach patrols

Surf Life Saving South Australia’s beach patrols will be increased this summer providing daily Between the Flags beach patrols on eight of the state’s busiest beaches, including Semaphore, Henley Beach, Glenelg, Brighton, Port Noarlunga, Moana, Aldinga and Goolwa.

The Surf Life Saving patrols will conduct daily inspections and ensure the flags are placed in areas where the water is safe, giving South Australians confidence they can safely swim between the flags.

Lifesavers will be on the beach in red and yellow, ready to support the community.

Surf Life Saving’s Beachsafe app

You can now check the condition and status of popular metropolitan and southern coast beaches before you go, by using Surf Life Saving’s Beachsafe app.

The app features information on algal bloom conditions like the presence of any abnormal foam or abnormally coloured water, when the beach was last cleaned, and a picture of the beach.

The free Beachsafe app will be updated four times a day during summer at 23 locations across South Australia. Information is also available via Surf Life Saving SA's existing Beachsafe.org.au website.

Daily beach clean-ups

Daily co-ordinated beach clean-ups will continue along the metro and southern beaches, to ensure clean and tidy beaches that can be enjoyed all throughout summer.

Are there alternatives to visiting the beach?

Aquatic activity and leisure at the beach are an important part of South Australian’s lives during summer. Naturally, it’s expected that some may turn to the local swimming pool for activities this summer.

To deliver greater access and increase capacity at public swimming pools over summer, school pools (that would be otherwise unused) will be activated so they can be used for organised swimming events.

Grants will also be made available for aquatic based sporting clubs to assist with lost revenue or increased equipment costs associated with the algal bloom. For more information visit algalbloom.sa.gov.au

How can I do my bit to help impacted by the algal bloom?

Dining cashback vouchers - up to $50 off, will be available to South Australians to use at a range of participating hospitality businesses in coastal areas this summer. This means savings at a range of restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, as well as takeaway venues.

No summer is complete without a meal watching the sunset, some local fish and chips or a big scoop of gelato by the beach. To register or to find out more visit the Coast is Calling website.

Can I still eat seafood?

All commercially available seafood from South Australian water is safe to eat. Shellfish available for sale is tested to make sure it meets strict safety standards. If you catch fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters or squid yourself, they are safe to eat if cleaned thoroughly and gutted before cooking.

Don’t eat self-collected bivalve molluscs (like oysters, cockles, mussels, pipis, scallops) or abalone, as they have not been tested for brevetoxin which causes gastro like symptoms.

Never eat dead or dying fish, cockles or other marine life found on the beach because of decomposition and spoilage.

How can I support coastal businesses?

A bigger, expanded and extended round of the popular Coast is Calling travel voucher program will run across the summer holidays.

Considering a coastal getaway with the family? There’s 30,000 travel vouchers valued between $100 and $500 up for grabs to use on for coastal holidays and experiences. To register or to find out more, visit the Coast is Calling website.

While on the coast, why not explore some of our most iconic National Parks? This summer South Australian National Parks along our coast will be free to access, including Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, and free vehicle access to Deep Creek National Park, Fleurieu Peninsula, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park on the Yorke Peninsula and Coffin Bay and Lincoln National Parks on the Eyre Peninsula.

Visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website to find out more.

What support is available for affected communities and industries?

The Summer Plan includes a package of funding with more than $27 million in industry grants and support for coastal communities, giving them the help they need now, while building the long-term resilience they’ll need for the future, including:

Support for coastal communities

Up to $6.1 million in infrastructure grants for coastal recreational facilities such as showers, benches, fish cleaning stations, barbecues and shade structures.                                                      

In addition to this, grants of up to $20,000 to assist with the promotion of events across coastal communities will be available to help encourage visitation and economic activity.

Support for the fishing and marine sector

Eligible businesses which have already received a grant will now be able to apply for a second grant if they can demonstrate a further three months of downturn.

This includes grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses or up to $100,000 for fisheries and aquaculture licence holders who have been unable to catch or harvest their usual catch. There will also be an additional up to $25,000 for hardest hit fisheries and aquaculture licence holders to support their workers.

Grants of up to $150,000 will be available for commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders to invest in projects that build business resilience, take advantage of new opportunities and help protect jobs.

Visit Algal Bloom Support Package | Small and Family Business to find out more.

In addition, there will be an extension to licencing fee relief for the fishing and aquaculture sectors through to June 30, 2026, along with a package of measures to help grow the recreational fishing sector, including fishing competitions and promotion of the sector.

What’s being done to tackle the Algal Bloom?

The State and Federal governments are investing more than $37 million to protect our environment for the long term and support vital research to monitor and understand algal blooms. This includes $20.6 million invested in our natural environment, comprising:

• Large-scale native oyster reef restoration
• Community shellfish reef restoration
• Seagrass and blue carbon restoration
• Threatened and vulnerable marine species breeding
• Water monitoring and forecasting
• Offshore water analysis
• AI Cytobots
• Establish an Office for Algal Bloom Research
• Algal bloom mitigation

Where can I find a copy of the Summer Plan?

You can access the Summer Plan online or pick up a copy at your local Council office or local Surf Life Saving club.

Where can I find more information?

Visit the SA Government Algal Bloom website algalboom.sa.gov.au for the most up to date information.

Call the algal bloom hotline - 1800 774 779, which operates from 9 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. It provides information on the current bloom, health advice, industry support, and allows you to report dead or sick wildlife.