<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/20/sea-dragon-populations-decimated-mind-blowing-mass-mortality-event-south-australia-algal-bloom>
"Thousands of sea dragons, pipefishes and seahorses died during South
Australia’s devastating algal bloom, in what ecologists say is the worst mass
mortality event for the fish family globally.
More than 1,600 weedy and leafy sea dragons, 1,400 pipefishes and 160 seahorses
washed up as the harmful algae spread along the state’s coastline, according to
analysis of citizen scientist records by Dragon Search SA.
The state is home to more than 30 species of
Syngnathidae, a family that
includes sea dragons, seahorses, pipefishes and more. At least 13 were affected
by the toxic bloom, which began in March 2025 and still lingers at one site in
southern Spencer gulf.
Weedy and leafy sea dragons, found only in Australia, were often some of the
first mortalities observed, as the algal bloom spread up and down the coast.
“Pipefishes and seahorses washed up mainly over winter and spring of 2025, but
records of dead sea dragons continued for more than a year,” the report said.
Prof David Booth, a marine ecologist specialising in sea dragons at the
University of Technology Sydney, said scientists, governments and citizens were
all “very concerned” about the future of the state’s marine emblem, known as
“leafies”. “South Australian populations have probably been very much
decimated, which is really sad, that’s the centre of their world distribution.”
Weedy sea dragons, which dominated the tally with 1,524 specimens recorded,
recently had their conservation status upgraded to vulnerable by the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The leafy sea dragon’s
status was also being reassessed in light of the bloom."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
