Home / Environment / Algal Bloom Chokes SA Marine Life, Threatens Cuttlefish
Algal Bloom Chokes SA Marine Life, Threatens Cuttlefish
24 Feb
Summary
- An algal bloom has spread north along South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.
- Marine life, including octopus and rays, has been suffocated by the bloom.
- There are fears the bloom could reach the giant cuttlefish aggregation site.
An expanding algal bloom along South Australia's Yorke Peninsula has turned coastal waters a discolored brownish-green. This harmful bloom has already led to the suffocation of southern sand octopus, rays, and other marine species, impacting the local ecosystem.
The bloom's northward progression is a significant concern, as it now threatens to reach the Spencer Gulf. This area is the location of South Australia's unique annual aggregation of giant cuttlefish, a spectacle drawing international attention.
The giant cuttlefish gathering, occurring near Whyalla starting in May, is the world's only known mass congregation of this species. These 'chameleons of the sea,' weighing up to 10 kilograms, attract photographers and researchers globally. The current algal bloom poses a severe risk to this extraordinary natural event.
