Lake Illawarra algal bloom scare abated

A WARNING by NSW Health recommending residents avoid contact with the waters of Lake Illawarra until the cause of a suspected algal bloom between Boonerah Point and Skiway Park in Lake Illawarra is determined has been abated.

The algal bloom has been identified as the non-toxic alga Noctiluca scintillans.

The bloom was first detected on Thursday, March 6, and is present as patches of red discolouration on the surface of the water along the shoreline and extending approximately 20 metres into the Lake.

NSW Health states that this species of algae may cause skin irritations in some sensitive individuals.

As a precaution, NSW Health recommends that people avoid all contact with all obvious blooms.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recommends that people should not eat recreationally-collected shellfish.

The DPI also recommends that finfish caught in the area should be well cleaned (guts and gills completely removed), washed and properly cooked.

Commercial harvesting of shellfish is not permitted in Lake Illawarra.

The Lake Illawarra Authority has erected warning signs and will continue to monitor the situation.

It is expected that the bloom will disperse naturally once the current environmental conditions change.

Noctiluca scintillans is one of the more common species of naturally occurring algae that bloom in NSW coastal waters.

The paint-like red-orange or pink-brown blooms occur when ammonia in the Noctiluca scintillans cells cause the algae to rise towards the surface of the water column.

Wind, waves and currents can then push the cells together to form a visible bloom, usually along a shoreline or in a bay.

All suspected algal blooms should be reported to the Regional Algal Committee during business hours on 4729 8138 or the Department of Environment and Climate Change’s Environment Line on 131 555 after hours.