Toxic algae causing mass deaths of sharks, rays and other marine life off Australia: “Like a horror movie for fish”

A vast bloom of toxic algae is killing more than 200 species of marine life off the southern coast of Australia, scientists and conservation groups say.

The algae — Karenia mikimotoi — appeared in waters around South Australia state in March, causing mass deaths in species including sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses.

“There are carcasses littering beaches,” said Brad Martin, a manager of the non-profit fish conservation group Ozfish.

“It is like a horror movie for fish,” Martin told the BBC.

Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected.

The bloom stretches across 1,700 square miles, Martin said — an area larger than Japan or Germany.

Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, China and the United States where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. In California, hundreds of seas animals have died due to a toxic algae bloom stretching from San Diego to San Luis Obispo,  CBS Los Angeles reported last month.

But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration.

“It’s an unprecedented event, because the bloom has continued to build and build,” wildlife scientists Vanessa Pirotta told the BBC.

The South Australian government said the event is thought to have been driven by a marine heatwave, as well as relatively calm marine conditions.

Marine biologist Shauna Murray, who identified the algae species for the authorities, said it damages the gills of fish and prevents them from breathing.

“It is not pleasant,” said Murray, from the University of Technology Sydney. “It will probably take some time for the ecosystem to recuperate.”

While conditions usually ease towards the end of April, there had been no relief yet, South Australian Environment Minister Susan Close said this month.

“We need a big change in weather to break this thing up — there is nothing we can do to precipitate this,” she told national broadcaster ABC.

In the meantime, South Australian authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discolored or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing.

Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems.