The Southern Australian Aboriginal Land and Sea Management Alliance (SAALSMA) supports local and national efforts to address the Algal Bloom in South Australia and ensure that Sea Country is healthy for future generations. The Algal Bloom has had devastating effects on Sea Country, Aboriginal communities, and the economies that support both. SAALSMA acknowledges the efforts by the South Australian government in consolidating a taskforce to address repair, resilience, and health of Sea Country affected by the Algal Bloom.

SAALSMA recognises the importance of inclusive representation in addressing this critical issue. We respectfully urge all levels of government to consider broadening their approach and ensure formal representation from directly affected Aboriginal communities in their decision-making processes. We believe that fulfilling and upholding pre-existing agreements to consult widely with affected communities would greatly enhance the effectiveness and outcomes of any initiatives addressing the Algal Bloom crisis. This inclusive approach is crucial for developing comprehensive and culturally appropriate solutions.

SAALSMA kindly requests the Algal Bloom taskforce to acknowledge the deep connections that Aboriginal people hold for Sea Country. We encourage the taskforce to engage in comprehensive and meaningful consultation with all communities impacted by this event, especially those who may not currently be represented in the taskforce’s structure.

We believe that by working together and incorporating diverse perspectives, particularly those of Aboriginal communities with longstanding connections to Sea Country, we can develop more effective and culturally appropriate solutions to address the Algal Bloom crisis and ensure the longterm health of our precious marine environments.

This inclusive approach should also be extended to the way we view this event. The Algal Bloom is not simply an isolated event; it is a symptom of ongoing neglect to our environment. The solutions are in considering knowledge-sharing in all forms and viewing the health of Sea Country as connected to our climate, the quality of our waterways and the wellbeing of our more than human and human kin.

SAALSMA is a newly established organisation dedicated to advocating for Aboriginal rights and the protection of sea country in Southern Australia.

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