Algal blooms and their persistence are a symptom of over-exploitation, pollution (including nutrients and antibiotics from aquaculture), warming waters, and weak oversight. We will demand reduced exploitation to allow coastal regions to recover better from whatever rising global temperatures throw at them.  

Bottom trawling, in particular, featured in David Attenborough's recent documentary "Ocean". It is a technique where a net is attached to a massive steel frame, which is pulled along the ocean floor, smashing the ecosystem and creating a wasteland. The lack of a rich bottom ecosystem hampers recovery from any event such as this algal bloom. There is no place for bottom trawling in our waters.

The consequences of the bloom have been traumatic.

• loss of wildlife
• beach closures
• reputational damage
• loss of visitor confidence
• respiratory irritation
• serious dog illnesses
• loss of safe access to our beaches

Currently, the same organisation is responsible for both the health of the coastal ecosystem and the regulation and promotion of aquaculture. This is a failure of Basic Governance 101. We need a separate body to handle regulation, monitoring and enforcement. 

Any independent body would opt for stronger nutrient pollution controls (aquaculture, agriculture, wastewater, stormwater).

Healthy oceans are part of the economic infrastructure in South Australia. When marine systems fail, jobs, tourism and public health suffer. Prevention is cheaper than clean-ups and closures.