South Australian Tuna Industry Reassured on Safety

0:00It's April 7th. From your city to your ears, this is Adelaide News today, powered by AI. South Australia authorities just cleared up worries about dead tuna, washing up near Port Lincoln. A few thousand Southern Blue Fintuna died from a natural phytoplankton called Viscidus Globosis and has got zero connection to the state's harmful, algal bloom. Officials say all local seafood is totally safe to eat. This happened back in March when a toe cage of fish passed through discolored water south of town on the Iron Peninsula. The seafood industry has had a rough year, with low demand from bloom fears, plus fuel issues, high costs, and bad weather hitting hard. Folks in the business got nervous at first, stirring up old concerns, but scientists move fast to reassure everyone. Groups like the Southern Blue Fintuna Industry Association stressed the need for more water checks to protect their stock. Students at the South Australian Research and Development Institute pinned it on seasonal upwellings that boosted the phytoplankton's growth offshore.

1:02They've seen this species before. Last time in 1996, and current sampling shows no threat to tuna zones in the Southern Spencer Gulf. Models predict it'll stay put where it hit. With tuna harvesting season kicking off last week, and easter demand in play, producers are pushing positivity despite some holiday sales dips. They're counting on that safety message to turn things around soon.