South Australia’s ongoing harmful algal bloom has been described by First Nations groups as a “cultural emergency,” highlighting the combined pressures of climate change, marine ecosystem decline, and cultural loss.

The bloom has caused mass deaths of fish and other sea life along the Adelaide coastline and Yorke Peninsula, threatening species of cultural and ecological importance such as butterfish and dusky morwong.

Traditional fishing practices, ceremonies, and connections to Sea Country have been disrupted, with communities expressing concern over food safety and long-term impacts on identity and custodianship.

Indigenous leaders argue the government’s response has been too slow and lacking genuine engagement, calling for stronger inclusion of First Nations voices in decision-making, recognition of cultural authority, and use of Indigenous knowledge in managing recovery.

The event underscores how climate-driven marine crises have far-reaching social, ecological, and cultural consequences.

The full ABC article by Isabella Carbone is available here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-17/sa-algal-bloom-cultural-emergency/105631230