A citizen science project has been set up to track marine mortality across the state following the toxic algal bloom affecting local coastal waters.

Established by iNaturalist and  OzFish Unlimited, the project maps fish and marine  deaths from reports made by observers on the ground.

The SA Marine Mortality events 2025 project gathers data on aquatic vertebrates and macroinvertebrates annotated 'dead' from February 2025 onwards.

The majority of records should reflect marine mortalities associated with the statewide marine heatwave that has seen a vast number and variety of sea creatures wash up on beaches.

Anyone who finds dead marine life washed up is asked to report it to the project. Visit the website for details of the project and how to make a report.

Excessive deposits of yellow foam caused the closure of Parsons and Waitpinga beaches at Victor Harbor and the horse tram service to Granite Island was suspended, due to effects of the microalgae Karenia Mikimotoi.

This followed widespread reports of surfers and beachgoers suffering symptoms including coughing and breathing difficulties, itchy eyes and blurred vision and dead fish and marine creatures washing up on beaches across the south coast.

SA Health has advised people to avoid swimming in affected areas and avoid discoloured water.