Scott Bennett, Co-Founder, Great Southern Reef Foundation: It's hard to 5overstate how devastating this algal bloom has been. It has really impacted the entire food web from the 6habitat forming species like our seaweeds and sponges and things that make up these reefs 7all the way through to the highest traffic level. So, lots of sharks, lots of 8rays. We've had recorded over 10 white sharks 9washing up on the beach, lots of dozens of species of rays.
CNN Narrator: An 10algal bloom is an intense concentration of microalgae often 11fueled by a marine heat wave. Since March, it has killed more than 17,000 animals from over 470 species of marine life, according to 12observations on the citizen science site iNaturalist. It's not only impacting sea species, but also the people on land who depend on the sea for their 13livelihood.
Scott Bennett: This has just 14paralyzed the fishing industry, the tourism industry and just really devastated the local population. So South Australians are 15grieving right now. This is their really beloved marine environment which has been impacted and everybody's feeling it.
CNN Narrator: South Australia¡¯s premier Peter Malinauskas visited the York Peninsula to meet impacted communities. A week after announcing US $9.2 million 16in aid 17matched by the federal government.
Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia: I want to be really clear about this. This is a natural disaster. I don't think, I think politicians can do themselves a 18disservice when they 19get caught up in technicalities. This is a natural disaster. It should be 20acknowledged as such.
CNN Narrator: Scientists say worldwide marine heat waves are increasing in size, duration, and frequency.
Scott Bennett: So, I think we can expect to see this occur elsewhere. And it's important we don't treat it as a 21one-off rare occurrence.
