A Flinders University algal bloom expert – whose role was scrapped as part of a restructure – shares worrying predictions the disaster, reportedly with a marine death toll of 87,000, is likely to be around for “many years”.

One of the state’s leading algal bloom researchers, associate professor Jochen Kaempf, was axed from his decades-long position at Flinders University in September. Now he’s sharing his thoughts on the catastrophe that has left more than 87,000 animals dead.

An underwater bloom of toxic algae has wreaked havoc off the coast of South Australia since mid-March 2025. After eight months, this harmful algal bloom is the longest and one of the most environmentally devastating events ever recorded in Australian waters.

The algal bloom is predominantly in Gulf St. Vincent and has affected 30 per cent of South Australia’s coastline. The bloom has affected more than 390 species, with more than 87,000 dead animals reported to the iNaturalist database. The true number of deaths is likely in the millions.

There is still no end in sight for this environmental disaster. It’s impossible to know exactly what might happen to this vast toxic bloom this summer, as the ocean heats up.

But we have models and scientific knowledge to guide our predictions.

The algal bloom has led to troubling times in South Australia. The commercial and recreational fishing sectors, tourist industry, the public and even politicians have suffered from its detrimental effects.

The algal bloom saga is full of surprise twists and turns, including the initial identification of the algae as Karenia mikimotoi, government speculation about its causes (frequently aired in television ads), and the resignation of South........

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