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'Let's not scare South Australians': What the public wasn't told about the toxic algal bloom

South Australia's felt the effects of the toxic algal bloom for the last 12 months. (Getty Images: Tracey Nearmy)

The South Australian government took months to update its health advice after the discovery of a potentially harmful toxin in the state's disastrous algal bloom, insisting it posed minimal risk to humans. 

For the past year, algae has flared at hotspots along the SA coastline, wiping out vast populations of marine life, closing parts of the fishing industry, and making some who have gone to the beach sick.

Despite the devastation, Premier Peter Malinauskas has remained upbeat and reassuring.

"The reality of the algal bloom sometimes isn't nearly as bad as people's perception of it," Mr Malinauskas told a media conference in October.

Can brevetoxins from algal blooms make me sick? A toxicologist explains

Ian Musgrave collaborated with SA Water to study saxitoxin and its implications for water quality. He has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to study adverse reactions to herbal medicines. He has previously been funded by the Australian Research Council to study potential natural product treatments for Alzheimer's disease. He is currently a member of one of the Therapeutic Goods Administration's statutory councils.

Adelaide University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

For about a year, an algal bloom in South Australian waters has had devastating effects on marine life. At my local beach, walks were a sad parade of dead sea life.

Stripped of life: the deadly South Australian algal bloom is still spreading one year on

More than 20,000 sq km of coast has succumbed to Australia’s first bloom of toxic Karenia cristata algae – and scientists worry it could explode again

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The largest and most destructive algal bloom in Australia’s history is persisting along parts of the South Australian coastline, a year on from when it was first detected.

From a distance, it can be hard to grasp just how unusual and devastating the crisis has been.

Most harmful blooms only last a few weeks. This one has been unrelenting.

Since March last year it has affected 20,000 sq km of coast – an area twice the size of greater Sydney – and ranks among the worst for marine mass mortality globally, killing millions of sea creatures – from tiny shellfish to top predators like white sharks.

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