Sarah Herrmann, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

if it goes on for another month, I don’t know that we’ll still be in business.”

That’s the sentiment of Stansbury oyster farmer Steve Bowley.

Mr Bowley’s farm, Pacific Estate Oysters, is one of several in the area closed due to the level of brevetoxin present.

“It’s been over five weeks now and our worst fears are being realised,” he said.

“Not only are we not in control of our destiny but they won’t even tell us what our destiny is.”

Mr Bowley was referring to an update he had received from Primary Industries and Regions SA the night before he spoke to YPCT [Yorke Peninsula Country Times] on Wednesday, June 11.

The oyster farmer said he was told Stansbury’s brevetoxin level was decreasing, and the presence of Karenia mikimotoi (the cause of the broader algal bloom) was increasing — but was not told by how much.

The YPCT [Yorke Peninsula Country Times] understands Port Vincent returned opposite results, with brevetoxin increasing, and KM decreasing.

“It’s frustrating that they would not give us the actual data, because we need it as part of our management tool,” Mr Bowley said.

“It’s another thing that tells me when we’re likely to go back to the market or not.

“The bills keep rolling in and things are pretty tight.”

Mr Bowley said he would not be applying for the $1500 in drought support available to him because of “all the hurdles” he said he would need to jump through.

“I think it will get to a point when I’ve got to go get a job, but I’m not facing that one yet, that’s just too difficult to contemplate.”

Mr Bowley said, while he could not attend a wellbeing meeting hosted by Stay Afloat Australia in Stansbury on June 5, he was heartened by the support shown, particularly the attendance of PIRSA fisheries executive director Gavin Begg.

“I thought it was really nice that he was there just to offer support,” he said.

“It doesn’t take much and we don’t need much; we just need some understanding and to be treated with respect at a human level and Gavin did that.

“There were also a number of people from the local community there and again that was great in terms of solidarity and community support.

“I was told there was some highly charged emotional sharing, and it wasn’t about the bloom update or when are we going to be opened, it was about mental health and wellbeing.”

To re-open a harvest area, two consecutive weeks of both shellfish and water samples must show a decline in brevetoxin and Karenia levels, with the brevetoxin level below the food safety standard.

PIRSA did not respond to YPCT‘s [Yorke Peninsula Country Times‘s] request for comment by the required deadline.

Bloom moving east

Chlorophyll-a concentrations have decreased on the southern tip and foot of Yorke Peninsula and along its eastern edge, according to the Department for Environment and Water, on Tuesday, June 10.

Increases in chlorophyll-a had been observed off the upper eastern side of Gulf St Vincent, and along the lower western side of Spencer Gulf.

Levels on south-eastern Spencer Gulf from Point Turton to Port Rickaby on YP are also elevated, the ABC reported on June 6; PIRSA did not respond to YPCT’s attempt to verify this before the required deadline.

Latest satellite images indicate strong winds linked to the May 26 storm have started to move the algal bloom eastward, according to DEW.

The satellite images monitor the level of chlorophyll-a in the sea, which provides an indicator of algae concentrations, but not necessarily concentrations of harmful algae.

Fishwatch had received an increase in reports of fish kills since May 26, with DEW saying the storm likely picked up fish that were already dead and washed them to shore.

Algae motion in parliament

Narungga MP Fraser Ellis introduced a motion in State Parliament earlier this month calling for an inquiry into the algal bloom.

Mr Ellis urged the government to determine the bloom’s cause, and that of the presence of brevetoxin at Stansbury and Port Vincent; examine the health effects on humans and marine life; consider the likelihood of it happening again; and commission research into how to intervene and minimise the effects of any possible future blooms.

The motion is scheduled for consideration in parliament tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18). 

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 17 June 2025.
Related stories: Algal bloom threatens entire marine habitats, Algae concerns close oyster farms