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BlackSupra Forums Junkie Registered: August 2002	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island? Thu, 25 September 2003 12:37 http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/s116255.htm Sunshine Coast fireweed threatens sea-life PRINT FRIENDLY EMAIL STORY The World Today Archive - Wednesday, 5 April , 2000 00:00:00 Reporter: John Taylor COMPERE: In Queensland State and local government authorities are meeting as we go to air to discuss a worsening blue-green algae infestation in coastal and estuarine waters around Brisbane. The bloom of lyngbya algae, or Fireweed as it's commonly known, is already affecting about 38 square kilometres and spreading at the incredible rate of 100 square metres a minute. There are fears the Golden Sunshine Coast will soon be infected. And as John Taylor in Brisbane tells us, it's now a big public health issue with added concerns about seafood contamination. JOHN TAYLOR: Queensland State and Council authorities are today meeting in Brisbane to consider closing beaches and other emergency measures as the blue-green algae outbreak spreads along Brisbane's coastline. So far the outbreak covers about 38 square kilometres of ocean in Deception Bay and Moreton Bay, taking in the popular recreational fishing spot of Pumicestone Passage. The Fireweed, as the algae is commonly known, has been growing at a rate of 100 square metres a minute. At that speed there are concerns it could spread to the tourist meccas, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. Exposure to Fireweed or its fumes can blister skin, irritate eyes and trigger asthma attacks. David Bateman from the Recreational Fishing Group, Sun Fish, says it's also harmful to the environment. DAVID BATEMAN: The extent of it now is absolutely massive. And what it does is it actually deoxygenates the water and it also kills the seagrass by blanketing the light out. So it's a major concern because that area is one of the last major stands of seagrass that we have in Moreton Bay. JOHN TAYLOR: Work has already begun to clear dead seagrass. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has also stepped up monitoring of turtle and dugong herds around the affected region. And the State Government has issued a warning to South-East Queensland residents to avoid all contact with the bloom. David Bateman from Sun Fish says it's not the first time Fireweed has bloomed off the Brisbane coast, but never this much. DAVID BATEMAN: But something seems to have triggered it to make it a lot more massive than what it is at present. And what we'd like to do is see the government put a project up that actually investigates the reason for this expanded bloom. It occurs in Great Sandy Straits and it has occurred quite frequently over the years, but not to the same extent as it is now. And if it continues it'll have a major effect on both the fishing and the economy of that area. JOHN TAYLOR: What should be done in the short term? DAVID BATEMAN: Well, in the short term the weed actually washes up on the beaches and it dries out and it goes to a powdery form and children playing on the beaches can inhale this and have all sorts of respiratory problems. But even worse than that, if you're fishing and wading in it, sensitive areas like the backs of your legs or even your hands, and if you happen to touch your mouth or your eyes or that sort of thing you can get quite severe discomfort and swelling and burning and even blisters inside your mouth if you happen to bite your line off or anything like that. So it is very very very toxic algae. And people should be very careful not to - to make sure they wash their hands well and truly if they're in that area at all. Because you can pick it up on crab pot floats, anchor lines, even get caught on your fishing line when you're winding it in. JOHN TAYLOR: So there's talk that the Government and local authorities may be moving to close some beaches today. You would support that? DAVID BATEMAN: Oh, most definitely. At least people should have the opportunity of knowing that it's there. And we've done that on several news broadcasts now and on fishing programs that people should be just really aware if they see any of this fluffy like brown or green algae weed floating in the water to stay well and truly away from it. COMPERE: A good warning from David Bateman of Sun Fish Queensland, the recreational fishing organisation, speaking there with John Taylor. [Report message to a moderator]

	Subject	Poster	Date
	NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 12:05
	Re: stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:36
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:40
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	thechuckster	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:43
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:43
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:46
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:48
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:51
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	thechuckster	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:53
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:57
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 13:57
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:02
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:09
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:13
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:17
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	thechuckster	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:19
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Wed, 24 September 2003 14:21
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	dcving	Thu, 25 September 2003 10:25
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 11:18
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:15
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:22
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:23
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:24
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:33
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:37
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 12:38
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	thechuckster	Thu, 25 September 2003 13:36
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 13:39
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	BlackSupra	Thu, 25 September 2003 13:49
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Thu, 25 September 2003 14:05
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	dcving	Fri, 26 September 2003 02:01
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	thechuckster	Sat, 27 September 2003 08:10
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	V8_MA61	Sat, 27 September 2003 11:29
	Re: NEED ADVICE! stradbroke vs fraser island?	Cyber-punk	Sat, 04 October 2003 01:55

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