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EPA<\/p>\nSimon Atkinson and Tiffanie Turnbull<\/p>\n
BBC News, Sydney<\/p>\n
Before and after footage shows impact of the toxic algae bloom<\/p>\n
An algal bloom catastrophe which has turned usually pristine South Australian waters toxic green and suffocated masses of marine life is a “natural disaster”, the state premier has declared.<\/p>\n
The algal bloom – a rapid increase in the population of algae in water systems \u2013 has been spreading since March and is now twice the size of the country’s capital territory. <\/p>\n
The federal government has unveiled an assistance package of A$14m ($9m; \u00a36.7m) but refused to designate the event a natural disaster – a term usually used for cyclones, floods and bushfires and which would trigger a greater response.<\/p>\n
Authorities say more than 400 species of marine life have died and local industries are suffering.<\/p>\n
Algal bloom is naturally occurring but is caused by ocean warming, marine heatwaves, and nutrient pollution – all a direct result of climate change.<\/p>\n
“This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such… I think politicians can do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He announced his government would match the federal government’s A$14m in funding, with money to go towards research, clean up, and industry support measures.<\/p>\n
EPA<\/p>\n
Some dead fish have been washed ashore<\/p>\n
Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young is among those openly criticising the federal government, accusing them of underplaying the situation.<\/p>\n
“If this toxic algal bloom was wreaking havoc on Bondi Beach or on the North Shore in Sydney, the prime minister would have already been on the beach with a response,” she said.<\/p>\n
However, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt on Monday said while the bloom and its impacts were “incredibly disturbing”, the catastrophe did not meet the definition of a natural disaster under the country’s laws.<\/p>\n
The bloom – which now stretches from Coorong to the Yorke Peninsula, an area about double the size of the Australian Capital Territory – is decimating the local environment and lining the coastline with dead wildlife.<\/p>\n