Strange Foam and Dead Fish Wash Ashore at 2 Australian Beaches as Surfers Fall Sick 

This image made from video provided by Australian Broadcasting Corp., shows foam washing up on beach Monday, March 17, 2025, in Waitpinga, near Adelaide. (Australian Broadcasting Corp via AP) 
This image made from video provided by Australian Broadcasting Corp., shows foam washing up on beach Monday, March 17, 2025, in Waitpinga, near Adelaide. (Australian Broadcasting Corp via AP) 
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Strange Foam and Dead Fish Wash Ashore at 2 Australian Beaches as Surfers Fall Sick 

This image made from video provided by Australian Broadcasting Corp., shows foam washing up on beach Monday, March 17, 2025, in Waitpinga, near Adelaide. (Australian Broadcasting Corp via AP) 
This image made from video provided by Australian Broadcasting Corp., shows foam washing up on beach Monday, March 17, 2025, in Waitpinga, near Adelaide. (Australian Broadcasting Corp via AP) 

An Australian state closed two beaches after dead fish and an unusual off-white foam washed ashore while surfers reported feeling unwell, officials said on Tuesday.

A microalgal bloom created by unusual weather conditions was suspected to have sickened humans and marine life as well as creating the foam that has covered hundreds of meters (yards) of coastline, South Australian Environment Protection Authority principal scientific officer Sam Gaylard said.

“It is very concerning,” Gaylard told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“It is unusual at this scale. At this time of year, when the weather conditions allow, we do occasionally get isolated blooms, but something of this scale is definitely a little bit unusual,” Gaylard added.

Waitpinga Beach and neighboring Parsons Beach, both south of the South Australia state capital Adelaide, have been closed to the public since Monday in response to a “fish mortality event in the area,” the Department for Environment and Water said in a statement.

“The beaches will be re-opened as soon as possible,” the department said.

Dozens of dead fish have reportedly been washed ashore.

Surfers have been complaining since the weekend of getting sore eyes, sore throats and coughing after contact with the water, said local Anthony Rowland, who surfed at Waitpinga on Saturday.

“While we were out there, we started coughing,” Rowland said, referring to his surfing comrades. He said he was overwhelmed by the response from other surfers after posting his experience online.

“Lots of people reached out – so many people have said they’re had exactly the same symptoms,” Rowland said.

Marine scientists took water samples from the foam, which is a byproduct of the toxic organisms' decay, on Monday, but it could take until the end of the week to identify the organism, Gaylard said.

A bloom of microalgae – microscopic, single-celled organisms – could have been caused by a recent extended period of hot and dry weather with little wind and low tides, Gaylard said.

A swell has picked up in the area since Sunday, and the turbulence could break up the algae while generating more foam, he said.

“At the moment, we’re not sure how long this will last,” Gaylard said.



Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Royal Reserve Sees Release of Over 30 Endangered Animals

The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
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Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid Royal Reserve Sees Release of Over 30 Endangered Animals

The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite. SPA

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in collaboration with the Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, has released over 30 endangered animals into the King Khalid Royal Reserve, as part of programs for breeding and reintroducing endangered species into their natural habitats, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday.
The release included 20 Arabian sand gazelles, five Arabian Oryx, four wild hares, three steppe eagles, and a Black kite, aiming to boost the reserve's biodiversity, restore ecological balance, enhance sustainability, and promote eco-tourism, SPA said.
These national efforts reflect the Kingdom's pioneering efforts in preserving natural resources and pursuing sustainable development through building sustainable ecological models. They also demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global environmental protection and sustainability, SPA added.