South Australia Health updates asthma advice on bloom, scientists say full extent of damage unknown

ABC NEWS (Australia)

More than 500 marine species in South Australia have been struck by the algal bloom which a scientist has labelled "the most extensive marine mortality recorded" in the state. The evidence came out in a Senate Committee hearing which also scrutinised new health advice for asthmatics. After months of being told there's no extra risk, people with asthma are now advised to carry medication on beaches with foam.

Transcript

00:00Mounds of algal seafoam on SA's beaches blowing into the air.

00:07For months, official health advice has been there's no extra risk for people with asthma.

00:12But a Senate inquiry has heard that advice was wrong.

00:16A harmful brevitoxin's been detected.

00:19That information's just become available in the last one to two weeks.

00:22There was an announcement about the detection in the foam last Thursday.

00:26So that's quite recent.

00:30We've only known this because we only started testing this two weeks ago.

00:34And the health advice has evolved, as you have said.

00:38It's raised questions over the government's testing regime.

00:42There's been evidence that it's been showing up in shellfish testing for months.

00:46Why wouldn't you test the foam?

00:48The state's primary industries department says it's been doing regular brevitoxin monitoring,

00:53but only in shellfish harvesting areas.

00:56It only undertook further testing when an unusual amount of seafoam appeared at Henley Beach.

01:03The inquiry also heard resounding calls from scientists for urgent marine surveys and ongoing monitoring,

01:09which they say have been underfunded.

01:12How can we tell you what has changed if we do not even know what was there to begin with?

01:17The state and federal government's $28 million funding package also came under the spotlight.

01:22Is it enough?

01:23Is it enough?

01:26It's what we're working with at the moment.

01:29The government also revealed the bloom will likely dissipate and return in a pulsating pattern.

01:35Clarify that.

01:35So you think that the most likely scenario is the pulsating, not that it's just going to continue to get worse or stay as it is?

01:41Is that what you've just said, Mr Beattie?

01:44That is what I just said.

01:45A summer plan is still under development, but the government's sure of one thing.

01:50The intent is not to close beaches, but rather to inform the community about the conditions at the beaches

01:56so that they can make risk-based judgements.

01:58The inquiry continues in the regional seaside towns of Port Lincoln, Ardrossan and Victor Harbour.

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