Sarah Herrmann, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Garfish, whiting and calamari stock assessment began in Gulf St Vincent last week, with the opposition calling the government’s timing “sluggish”.

The state government announced a “rapid assessment of fish stocks and fisheries” on July 22 to measure the impact of the algal bloom, but more than two months later, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Nicola Centofanti said there had been little evidence of a rapid response.

However, Primary Industries Minister Claire Scriven said fish stock assessments had been “underway for weeks”.

“Assessments have been completed for the prawn, blue crab, abalone and rock lobster fisheries,” she said.

“Analysis of catch-and-effort data has also been completed for the Marine Scalefish Fishery.

MSF commercial fishers undertook surveys of calamari, garfish and King George whiting last week, and will continue throughout spring/summer.

Commercial fishers have been involved in the codesign of the survey program and are fully supportive of the work underway.”

Port Wakefield commercial fisher Bart Butson said he and 27 of his MSF colleagues have been contracted to complete assessments in GSV until the end of December.

Fish stock assessments begin

Mr Butson said it was a good initiative but what they were seeing so far was “terrible”.

Mr Butson had previously called upon the state government to close GSV and Spencer Gulf to commercial fishing until the sustainability of stocks could be confirmed.

“I stand by that … the commercial fishers in GSV could have a temporary closure while we do this research,” he said.

“I understand that government has to ascertain the stocks accurately to make the big decisions.

“It’s not perfect but we’re all doing our best.”

Ms Scriven said findings would be provided to the algal bloom taskforce, which meets weekly and holds subsequent press conferences.

Oyster growers hit 150 days closed

Following a long-weekend visit to Yorke Peninsula, Premier Peter Malinauskas has said “the perception of the algal bloom is doing as much damage as the bloom itself” — but that is not the case for Stansbury oyster grower Steve Bowley.

Mr Bowley has not been able to sell his oysters for more than 150 days, due to the presence of brevetoxin in Stansbury waters.

Stansbury oyster growers were shut down on May 5 and Port Vincent farmers on May 19 because brevetoxin can cause illness if people consume contaminated shellfish.

Mr Bowley said his business Pacific Estate Oysters had received $25,000 through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant — which he helped the state government announced at Ardrossan in July — but did not qualify for more, or the $100,000 maximum.

“It ($25k) is fantastic, better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick, but we’ve probably lost $150,000 in sales,” he said.

Mr Bowley also said his oysters had been looking healthy but their condition was beginning to decline.

“It’s probably because we’ve had them up so high (in the water column) to avoid the bloom that they’re now suffering from that,” he said.

“Or we’ve got these rotten rafts of seagrass out there which are breaking down and depleting oxygen out of the water.

It’s uncharted territory and I feel a bit like a guinea pig.”

As the closure continues, Mr Bowley said he would like to see modified clay tried in oyster growing areas in an attempt to tackle the algae.

He said he had been forced to consider truck driving during harvest to earn an income.

“I can’t do both, and at the moment we’re still going out a few times a week to repair and maintain and grade, so I’d have to give that the flick … at least I’d get a few bucks coming in the door.”

What’s next?

An algal bloom hotline has launched, and the state government is set to announce its summer plan within the next fortnight.

Hotline operators can answer questions about industry support, health advice, sick or dead marine life, beach safety and seafood consumption.

The hotline will operate seven days a week, including public holidays, from 9am to 5pm.

Calls related to mental health support, as well as at risk or dead fish or wildlife, will be answered 24/7.

The hotline, 1800 774 779, complements the existing dedicated state government website algalbloom.sa.gov.au.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 8 October 2025.