**MEDIA ALERT** Embargoed to 08:00AM Furious locals demand Santos pay to clean up beaches
Rising Tide
**MEDIA ALERT**
Embargoed until 08:00AM on 30/07/2025
Furious locals demand Santos pay to clean up beaches
VISUALS: Frustrated locals gather on the doorstep of Santos’ inner-city Adelaide headquarters. They will confront them with evidence of marine life washed up on local beaches.
Who? 20-50 locals (organised by Rising Tide)
What? Action on the doorstep of Santos HQ in Adelaide to demand the company pay damages for the devastating mass fish kill which has also impacted locals, tourism and fishing industries.
When? Wednesday 30 July, 8:30am onwards
Where? Santos HQ, 60 Flinders St, Adelaide
Why? To demand one of the nation’s biggest polluters pay for their role in the disaster which is fuelled by climate change.
MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until 08:00AM on 30/07/2025
Furious locals demand Santos pay to clean up beaches
The key facts:
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A climate-fuelled algal bloom has killed 17,000+ marine animals and 450+ unique species since it was first reported in March. (Source: iNaturalist) (Source: ABC)
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The algal bloom is fuelled by climate change. A 2.5 degree spike in the ocean’s temperature was recorded in September 2024 - the sea is warming as a result of climate change. (ABC)
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Gas giant SANTOS has INCREASED their emissions since 2019 and plans to expand their operations into the future, all the while banking $1.2 billion in profits in 2024. (Source: IEEFA) (Source: Santos)
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Adelaide locals are demanding SANTOS pay for the damage they are causing to local industry, beaches and marine life.
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South Australian fisheries generate about $500 million a year. (AFR)
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Adelaide locals are demanding gas giant Santos foot the bill for impacts to the state’s multi-million-dollar fishing and tourism industries after 17,000 marine animals washed up on their beaches.
The dead fish - including sharks, dolphins and over 400 unique species - have been washing up on South Australia’s coastline since March when reports emerged a brown foam had formed on the water and local surfers were falling ill.
The mass mortality event is a result of a toxic algal bloom which formed after the ocean temperature spiked 2.5 degrees above normal levels in September 2024.
SA’s Environment Minister Susan Close confirmed this is a result of climate change.
After four months of impact to local industries and the emotional toll of watching their local beaches overwhelmed with dead marine life, locals have taken their fight to the inner-city headquarters of gas giant Santos.
“We know climate change is being caused by the big polluters and Santos is one of Australia’s biggest,” local parent-of-two Indi Wishart said.
“Climate change is choking our oceans and washing dead animals up on our beaches. We want everyone to know who is bringing it here.”
“Our community and local businesses shouldn’t be footing the bill for the damage they are causing while they pocket massive profits.”
Santos’ emissions have gone up in the last five years and they plan to expand their operations into the future, all the while banking $1.2 billion in profits in 2024.
“Last year, SANTOS paid well over $700m to their shareholders, surely they can find some money to mitigate the damage they have caused,” Indi Wishart said.
“They must help fund the clean-up and recovery efforts from this catastrophic disaster. There will be more algal blooms, more bush fires and more floods and it’s time we made the big polluters pay.”
For interviews or more information, please call:
Tim Brunero
Mobile: 0405 285 547
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