PORT MACDONNELL, SA – SA Seafood Industry Assures Customers of Safety Amid Algal Bloom Despite the widespread harmful algal bloom in Gulf St Vincent and parts of the Spencer Gulf, South Australian seafood producers are reassuring customers that their products are safe for consumption.
The industry, which is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, has been affected by the bloom, with some areas experiencing a decline in sales due to misperceptions about the source of their seafood.
Tom Ryan, who works in the seafood industry on the Limestone Coast, emphasized that 90% of the region’s production is exported internationally and sourced from areas unaffected by the algal bloom.
Lobster fishers in the south-east are hopeful that the bloom will not impact their industry, which has just emerged from a difficult period due to COVID-19 and a ban on exports to China.
Andrew Lawrie, a seafood exporter in Robe, said the domestic market has been supportive, but the industry cannot afford to risk its substantial revenue.
The state government has encouraged people to continue visiting and supporting SA’s coastal towns, with Environment and Water Minister Susan Close stressing that seafood from South Australia is safe to eat.
A $28 million support package has been made available to affected commercial fisheries and licence holders, including grants of up to $100,000.
The fishing industry is worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy, and depending on the severity of the bloom’s impact, economic losses could be significant.
BDO economist Anders Magnusson estimated that lost production could cost tens of millions of dollars in certain locations.
As the situation develops, authorities are urging the public to continue supporting the local industry, with Minister Close suggesting that buying South Australian seafood is the best way to help those affected by the bloom.