Harmful Algal Bloom Hits Moonta Bay

0:00South Australia's harmful algal bloom has finally hit Moon to Bay and port hues in the Spencer Gulf, areas that dodged it until now. This comes right after local spotted dozens of stingrays, crowding shallow waters near the Moon Taijedi, signaling trouble ahead. Divers like local regular Mr. Andrews jumped in to check and found early warning signs under water, including dead octopuses and squid along the, jetty species hit hardest by the bloom. It started nearly a year ago down south and has crept about 60 kilometers north since hitting spots like Pointe Terton and Port Victoria in January. Locals are worried about the ripple effects, with Andrews describing striking, possibly irreversible damage to the ecosystem. Even if the water clears up, key tiny organisms are gone, leaving the food chain messed up and marine life struggling to bounce back. The SA Research and Development Institute jumped on samples from the area and offshore, spotting a reservoir of the Kerenia cells in deeper water via satellite core filled data.

1:02Concentrations look low so far, built up over recent weeks, not super strong. Scientists hope the Northern Gulf's hyper-saleine waters act as a buffer to break it down quick, and it's not racing north, just lashing with tides. They're sampling all the way up top to stay ahead, watching cell counts drop in southern spots already. Sydney News today, powered by AI, bringing you what matters. I'm Corey, with the story.