Citizen scientists and holidaymakers key to restoring confidence in SA’s algal bloom-hit shoreline – Information and occasions

28 August 2025

With South Australia’s dangerous algal bloom devastating coastal communities, a University of South Australia tourism skilled is urging its native communities to indicate solidarity and discover inventive methods to help affected areas.

Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles is asking South Australians to rally behind coastal communities hit laborious by the bloom which has killed 1000’s of marine animals and triggered widespread anxiousness and financial ache.

For months the state’s shoreline has been affected by a large-scale bloom of Karenia mikimotoi, a dangerous algae killing marine life and degrading once-thriving underwater ecosystems. The catastrophe has additionally dealt a heavy blow to native tourism and group livelihoods, and has the potential to increase into the height vacation season.

Dr Higgins-Desbiolles says intrastate travellers ought to use the disaster as a chance to help affected communities by holidaying in coastal hotspots in the course of the upcoming spring and summer season holidays and by pondering creatively about how you can spend time there.

“In addition to its economic value, tourism has potential social and ecological value, so we should be focusing on how it can connect our communities and support recovery,” she says. “We may rethink tourism to centre native communities and get their enter into restoration insurance policies and planning. As we head into summer season, we’ll have to get inventive with occasions that convey individuals collectively and assist construct resilience.

“Most tourism businesses along the SA coast remain open for business, and although the conditions of the water may differ from time to time, visiting the beach can still be enjoyed and other activities such as beach games and walks can be explored. Interstate visitors could also help by staying longer and ensuring their spending goes into local businesses, such as markets, shops, bakeries, pubs and wineries.”

Dr Higgins-Desbiolles says it is also a perfect time for a distinct segment group of vacationers – citizen scientists – to go to affected areas, serving to native communities to gather information and increase scientific understanding of the bloom.

“We could call upon certain types of visitors – volunteer tourists – who are keen to give back and help. For example, under water divers could visit our coastal areas and help with some of the scientific or restoration work,” she says.

“One of the most interesting insights into this crisis has been the number of people who are providing data on the scale of marine deaths. Citizen scientists have recorded 32,000 entries on 480 species of perished marine life, often through the iNaturalist website. These people are helping address the difficulty of the situation by contributing their time and energy.”

A recent survey by the Tourism Industry Council SA involving eating places, resorts and marine tourism operators on the Yorke, Eyre and Fleurieu peninsulas, Kangaroo Island and metropolitan Adelaide discovered that 40% of SA companies impacted by the algal bloom have skilled a downturn in commerce.

The common yr on yr loss for a enterprise in July 2025 was $52,000, whereas 14% of respondents reported losses of greater than $100,000.

Dr Higgins-Desbiolles says the most important risk is to South Australia’s clear and inexperienced id and its fame for pristine coastal ecosystems and ecotourism.

“The tourism industry is going to be very hurt by the branding impact, particularly Kangaroo Island which is our key drawcard for tourism. The crisis has received attention in international media and so there’s a real concern for the long-term impact to our brand,” she says.

“It (the algal bloom) is not going to go away soon. What we will face in the upcoming summer is unknown, but we need to build that confidence among intrastate travellers that coastal areas are still enjoyable. Our beaches are still open for recreation, swimming and enjoyment.”

The State and Commonwealth governments’ $28.5 million support package permits eligible tourism companies to use for $10,000 small enterprise grants. More lately, 20,000 travel vouchers for accommodation and experiences were announced in a bid to lure guests to SA coastal areas forward of the September college holidays.

South Australians can apply to win one of many Coast is Calling vouchers, that are comparable in idea to journey vouchers launched in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to spice up tourism.

Dr Higgins-Desbiolles says expertise exhibits the vouchers do make a distinction in sparking demand for native ‘staycations’ nonetheless altering mindsets and boosting confidence in coastal and marine environments is essential to easing individuals’s trepidations.

“We really must rethink the value of intrastate trips and remember that domestic holidays are about more than just our recreation – we can support each other,” she says. “Considering the increasing numbers of climate related crises in Australia – floods, bushfires and droughts – we will find the intrastate tourism market increasingly important.”

“Travelling within our own state is a source of real reliability and comfort for distressed communities.”

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Contact for interview: Dr Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management M: +61 406 019 222
E: [email protected]

Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E: [email protected]