General Information

Event name: AU-25-001
Country: AUSTRALIA
Nature of the harmful event:
Water Discoloration , High Phyto concentration , Seafood toxins , Mass mortalities , Foam/Mucilage in the coast
Event directly affected:
Planktonic life , Natural Fish , Birds , Aquaculture Fish , Shellfish , Aquatic Mammals , Humans
Toxicity detected: Yes
Associated syndrome: NSP , Aerosolized toxins effects
Unexplained toxicity:
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector):
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme: No
Event occurred before in this location:
Individuals to contact: Hallegraeff Gustaaf

Location & Date

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Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: AU-03, Waitpinga Beach
HAB Area code(s): AU-03
Additional location information: Similar problems were aldso reported from South Australia at Boatswain Point (21 March 2025) and Kangaroo Island (1 April 2025)
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd): Start: 2025-03-17, End: 2025-09-01
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information:

Microalgae

Causative organism known: Yes
Causative Species/Genus: Karenia mikimotoi (3000000 cells/L)
Karenia brevisulcata (Chang) Hansen et Moestrup 2000 ( cells/L)
Karenia spp. ( cells/L)
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known: 16 µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography: Numerous press releases, tv panels etc

Environmental Conditions

Weather: Turbidity (NTU): Wind direction:
Stratified water: Oxygen content (nL/L): Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C): Oxygen saturation %: Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m): Salinity: Current Velocity:
Nutrient information:
Temperature Range During Event: Max: 24 °C, Min: 18 °C
Salinity Range During Event:
Bloom location in the water column: Whole column
Growth:
Growth Comments yellowish foam stretching for hundreds of meters along Waitpinga Beach, 15 km sw of Victoria Harbour
Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
mussels Brevetoxins PbTx-B2 11 mg BTX/kg LC-MS
Brevetoxins PbTx-B3 LC-MS
Kit used: Type of kit used:
Additional information: underway
Economic losses: to be assessed
Management decision: several beaches were closed; shellfish industry closed
Additional harmful effect information: beachgoers and surfers reported coughing, cold and flu-like symptoms. Mass marine mortality of a broad range of 400 species including seadragons, sharks, fish, dolphins, octopus
Created at 11:22 on 27 Mar 2025
Updated at 08:15 on 1 Sep 2025
IOC/UNESCO ISSHA
IOC/UNESCO ICES PICES