FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – More than 200 marine species have been killed by a toxic algal bloom off the coast of South Australia, according to a new analysis by fishing conservation group OzFish.
The organization reviewed over 1,400 citizen science reports of marine life washing ashore since the bloom began in March, with around 100 species of fish and sharks among the fatalities.
The outbreak of Karenia mikimotoi, a toxic micro-algae, was first reported in March after large numbers of dead marine animals and thick foam appeared on beaches.
OzFish found that ray-finned fish accounted for 47 percent of washed-up species, while sharks and rays made up 26 percent. Soft-bodied cephalopods, including squid and octopus, comprised 7 percent, and decapods such as crabs, lobsters, and prawns accounted for 6 percent.