Radio Interview- ABC Eyre Peninsula with Emma Pedler
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC EYRE PENINSULA SA
WEDNESDAY, 10 September 2025
SUBJECTS: Senate Inquiry into Algal Blooms in South Australia
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
You've already been out for a look around our city. Where have you been?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
Well, we were down at the quay this morning talking to some of the industry, looking over what boats are moored there, the kind of issues that they've been facing or, to be honest, not facing - but being anxious about - into the future.
I think one of the key things here is that the impact has been quite minimal in this area. We are hoping that it stays that way, but we have to be prepared.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
It's an interesting thing because I know a lot of fishermen are saying here on Eyre Peninsula, hasn’t had as many marine mortalities wash up onto beaches but fishermen are saying they think that they're on the bottom and just haven't washed up on shore. So is that an interesting thing compared to other areas around the state?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
It is, because in other areas around the state, it's quite evident - quite obvious - we're seeing deceased marine life on the beaches. But what we're hearing, and again, only heard some very limited evidence so far, but we will be hearing.
We've got a panel later today, which we're hoping to gain a lot more information from, that they're seeing some species appear to be doing really well and fine. Others seem to have moved so the sardines seem to have moved further away from the coast which could be a protective measure which means they're still there they can still be caught by the sardine industry but they're moving themselves around.
There are other species that are less mobile and maybe they are heading to different parts that are closer by, maybe deeper, maybe shallower. We don't know. And I think this is the point.
We haven't seen a major impact on the industry just yet. What we have seen, the impact we have seen is where misinformation is getting out there and people are pushing this sort of sense that maybe our seafood isn't safe, which is just not true. The seafood from this area is totally safe. The seafood from across South Australia if it's on your shelves, eat it. It's amazing.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
Yeah, I think locals kind of understand that here on Eyre Peninsula. Everyone's been trying to support them as best they can. One thing we have found out is that the foam may not be as good for you as we, I mean, we didn't think it was good for you, let's be honest.
But the difference between this toxic sea foam versus normal seafoam is going to be the interesting thing because there is normal sea foam that just washes up when the ocean gets stirred bit. But what we saw almost raining down on some suburbs in Adelaide recently was quite phenomenal. And obviously it's now been found and was announced yesterday that has had an impact on some people's health.
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
That's right and so this came up through looking at the impact on asthmatics basically and what the health advice is now saying and it's on the Algae Bloom website. There's a specific page if you click the drop box on the right hand side you'll see there's a page called health. If you go there it's up there front and centre it'll tell you exactly what the health professionals are saying but basically they're saying if [you’re] an asthmatic and you're going to the beach, it's worth popping your puffer in your pocket and have a plan because it could be that it's triggering. We know that some people have found where the bloom is in action and we're seeing deceased marine life on the beach and foam on the waves. That is causing some people a level of respiratory discomfort, maybe some itchy skin, red or watery eyes. So the health advice is if that's the situation on the beach, walk away. If you are asthmatic, make sure you've got a plan in place and you bring whatever medication you use with you.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
Yeah. I'll also just flag that in some cases you may not actually even have a diagnosis. And if you are experiencing any kind of breathing issues at the beach leave as soon as you can but also if that does persist you can actually get an over-the-counter Ventolin inhaler from the local pharmacist so that might be something that you might look to have to do that you can easily get something like that rather than have to go through the doctor and go through that process and wait for a long time to find out an outcome. So you can get that kind of stuff immediately if required.
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
I would strongly recommend that people, if you're feeling a bit itchy or you're having a little difficulty with or an irritation in breathing, then talk to your pharmacist. They can be so helpful.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
We're speaking with Senator Karen Grogan today, Deputy Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Algal Blooms in South Australia that's coming to Port Lincoln today. So what is planned for this morning?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
So this morning we have got the City of Port Lincoln coming in to talk to us. I know that the Mayor, Diana Misloff, was in Canberra last week, basically about the issues that Port Lincoln is facing, met with the PM met with the Minister, met with a bunch of us as well. And they've got a range of people from the Council coming along to tell us what they are experiencing, what the people of Port Lincoln are experiencing from their perspective and what they think should be done next. We've also got the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association coming. And like I say, then we've got a big panel of sardine industry, the Sarin Group, Yumba Aquaculture, abalone industry, oysters, so that we can really start to unpack what are they seeing and what are our plans into the future? What do we need to do to make sure we protect the industries and make sure that we mitigate our way through this bloom as best we possibly can?
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
The chances are this could be an ongoing reality into the future, isn't it?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
It could be. Now, what we do know, is that in other countries and other jurisdictions where they've had these algae blooms, sometimes they just disappear. And sometimes they just continue to reoccur. We've seen evidence in Florida where over 25 years they've had 20 blooms. 20 years out of those 25 they've had blooms. Some of them are extensive and some of them are not. It's not the same algae that we have here. But because this is an unprecedented scenario, we've never seen anything like this in Australia, we're kind of learning as we go because it's not something we've experienced. So we're drawing on all the expertise we possibly can from other jurisdictions and listening intently to industry, tourism, community to unpack what it is we need to do to prepare and mitigate into the future, but also what do we need to do to get past the situation we're in right now.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
As a Senator, do you think it's more important to try and battle and do what we can to prevent, if possible, these things happening? Or I know that there's been conversations about, oh, well, you know, we can put things in to help you when it does happen. But other people in the community are like, well, can we just stop it from happening altogether?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
Unfortunately, we can't. This is a natural occurrence. The one thing that everyone appears to be completely in agreement on is that one of the significant factors is the increasing sea temperature. So the temperature of the ocean around the South Australian coast has gone up by 2.5% over this... 2.5 degrees or...? 2.5 degrees, sorry, in this marine heat wave that we're seeing. So that has an impact on how algae responds. There are a couple of other theories that we haven't got to the bottom of yet. And so there is a chance, given that the ocean [is] warming, which has been predicted for decades now by scientists due to climate change, is one of those catalyst issues. We can, there are various things that we are exploring through this committee in terms of improving the quality of the water in the ocean. It's been floated that additional oyster reefs, more seagrass, and working on those environments around our coast could make a difference and could minimise further booms. But we're still unpacking all of that information at this point in time. But definitely from my perspective, we need to do everything we can to make sure that this doesn't come back. And if it does, that we are well prepared to minimise it and mitigate any impact.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
Yeah, we've got the defence team lined up. That's what we need, isn't it? Getting ready to battle it. We're speaking to Senator Karen Grogan. These are public hearings today. Can anyone get along and have a listen today?
KAREN GROGAN, LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
Certainly can. We're at the Yacht Club. So anyone can come along and listen in. From 9.30 this morning.
EMMA PEDLER, HOST:
9.30. All right. Well, we'd better let you go so you can get prepared. Thanks so much for your time today. Thanks for having me on. Cheers. Senator Karen Grogan, Deputy Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Algal Blooms in South Australia.