Australia's toxic algae bloom is 'natural disaster' - premier

South Australia is facing a serious environmental crisis as a massive algal bloom has turned its usually clear waters into a toxic green mess. This algal bloom, which started spreading in March, has now grown to cover an area twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory. The bloom is not only making the water look bad, but it is also killing a huge number of marine animals. More than 400 different species have died, and the coastline is now lined with dead fish and other sea creatures. The South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, has called this event a 'natural disaster' and is urging the federal government to treat it as seriously as other disasters like floods or bushfires.

The federal government has announced a $14 million assistance package to help deal with the crisis, but they have stopped short of officially calling it a natural disaster. This is important because if it were declared a natural disaster, it would trigger a bigger response and more funding. The Premier has promised that the state government will match the federal funds, bringing the total to $28 million. This money will be used for research, cleaning up the affected areas, and supporting local industries that have been hit hard by the disaster. Many people who work in the fishing industry have lost their income, with some not earning anything for three months. Ian Mitchell, who works as a middleman between fishers and retailers, said that some fishermen have been so upset that they have called him in tears.

The cause of the algal bloom is a combination of natural and human factors. Algal blooms can happen naturally, but this one has been made much worse by ocean warming, marine heatwaves, and pollution from nutrients. All of these are linked to climate change. The warmer water and extra nutrients create perfect conditions for algae to grow out of control. Some politicians, like Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, have criticized the federal government for not doing enough. She said that if this had happened at a famous beach like Bondi, the response would have been much faster. The federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt, said that while the situation is very disturbing, it does not meet the legal definition of a natural disaster. Still, the impact on the environment and the local economy is huge. The algal bloom has turned the sea into a 'horror movie for fish,' and many people are worried about how long it will take for the area to recover. The hope is that with more funding and attention, the damage can be repaired and the waters can return to their normal, healthy state.