A recent study from Adelaide University has found that the prolonged algal bloom along South Australia's coastline in 2025 had a notable psychological impact on local residents. The research, which surveyed over 600 people during the peak of the event, reported high levels of "eco-anxiety"—a term used to describe distress caused by environmental damage.
The findings, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, indicate that many participants experienced ongoing worry, sadness, and feelings of helplessness as a result of the marine crisis. According to lead researcher Dr Brianna Le Busque, Program Director of Environmental Science and Geospatial Science at Adelaide University, "For many South Australians, the beach is a place of solace and restoration. When that space becomes associated with dead marine life, foam and health warnings, it changes how people feel about going there."
Survey responses showed that women reported higher levels of eco-anxiety than men. People who visited the ocean more frequently were also more likely to experience distress. Nearly half of those directly affected said they stopped recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, walking or fishing due to the bloom.
Just under 40% of respondents who felt directly impacted said their mental health had declined. They described experiencing grief, frustration and depression; some even compared seeing dead marine animals on the shore to "the death of a loved one." A third linked their distress specifically to witnessing these scenes.
Physical health concerns were also present: 24% reported symptoms like coughing or respiratory irritation after visiting affected beaches.
Dr Le Busque emphasized that eco-anxiety should be recognized as a legitimate public health issue, especially as climate-related events such as algal blooms are expected to become more common. "We often think about the economic and environmental costs of events like harmful algal blooms," she said. "But we also need to consider the human cost. These events can disrupt people's daily routines, their sense of place, and their relationship with nature."
The researchers suggest that understanding these psychological effects is essential for building community resilience and ensuring mental health support is included in future responses to environmental crises. Dr Le Busque concluded: "This bloom has shown that when the ocean suffers, communities suffer too."
