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South Australia

Citizen scientists maintain dolphin watch amid bird flu threat

1 min read Rewritten in plain language

Marine BiologyAlgal BloomsAvian Influenza

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  • Citizen scientists continue to monitor the marine environment around the Fleurieu Peninsula off the South Australian coastline.
  • Locals are waiting to see if a sea lion found near Victor Harbor is confirmed to have died of bird flu.
  • While continuing to monitor the water, they are also watching the wildlife for signs of bird flu, after the first Australian case in a dolphin identified locally at Goolwa Beach, which was followed by a new suspected case in a sea lion at Victor Harbor.
  • Information collected on each dolphin and its environment is fed into the South Australian government's state biological database.
  • The group was recently awarded the title of South Australian Citizen Science Champions for 2026.

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Citizen scientists continue to monitor the marine environment around the Fleurieu Peninsula off the South Australian coastline.

Water samples, wildlife behaviour and other data are being collected to help researchers.

Locals are waiting to see if a sea lion found near Victor Harbor is confirmed to have died of bird flu.

As a boat full of tourists sets off to see dolphins in Victor Harbor early on Saturday morning, they are joined on board by a group of citizen scientists.

While continuing to monitor the water, they are also watching the wildlife for signs of bird flu, after the first Australian case in a dolphin identified locally at Goolwa Beach, which was followed by a new suspected case in a sea lion at Victor Harbor.

Nedra Haines has been monitoring her dolphins for 14 years, as part of the Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch Group.

Information collected on each dolphin and its environment is fed into the South Australian government's state biological database.

The dolphin watchers were, without realising it at the time, some of the first to see the early signs of the algal bloom before it blew up on local beaches.

Ms Haines said that while the days of the bloom had been depressing, she had watched over the dolphins, diligently recording any signs of irritation to their thick, rubbery skins.

Today on the boat, there is no behaviour to suggest the dolphins are anything but healthy.

The group was recently awarded the title of South Australian Citizen Science Champions for 2026.

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ABC Newsas they published this story 12.7 15 29 -0.1 45.7
Mundane Readneutralized from ABC News 11.2 14 29 -0.1 45.7

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