After weeks of being 'cautiously optimistic' South Australia's harmful algal bloom is tracking in the right direction. The government has begun to lift some temporary restrictions for recreational fishers. Latest data shows fish stocks are beginning to recover, but the government still warns there is a possibility the bloom could return.
00:00An early Christmas present for recreational fishers hitting the waterways this summer.
00:08Restrictions on catching garfish and blue swimmer crab in the Spencer Gulf are now eased.
00:13The science which tells us that those stock levels are actually doing quite well and we can now reopen the limits.
00:20Restrictions have also been lifted for migratory fish species such as salmon and tuna in the Gulf St Vincent and Kangaroo Island fishing zone.
00:29We've seen an increase in reported catches so the general confidence in the community is looking up.
00:35The government says the changes are off the back of a positive trend in testing results.
00:40The footprint by and large has been reduced significantly to a couple of small little patches.
00:47The patch in northeast Kangaroo Island around Emu Bay.
00:52The restrictions have only been in place for nearly two months and were initially slated to run until the middle of next year.
00:58The government says the latest changes will have minimal impacts on fish stocks but restrictions will remain in place for certain species under threat.
01:07It's welcome news for Adelaide Tackle Shop owner Steve Castle.
01:11It's going to promote so many more people going away for Christmas time and school holidays to catch a feed of fish.
01:17Despite the improved water conditions, he says his business is still suffering in what should be his busiest trading period.
01:25We've had a 32% downturn in the last four months and it's got to be the algae bloom.
01:36Hoping the new year will bring a return to a popular pastime.
01:40Do you think it is the only way to protect things we should have needed to break the pickup during this?
01:41It's gone through so manyРЕ melee edition, but let's take a look.
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