Blood-sucking, eel-like fish another possible casualty of algal bloom
Scientists say no lampreys have been caught during their usual winter migration from ocean to river during two consecutive monitoring periods.
South Australian researchers have found no evidence of the elusive, blood-sucking lamprey fish in recent monitoring periods, sparking concerns that this ancient species may be another casualty of the state's devastating algal bloom. The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) has used fishway traps to track lampreys as they migrate from the ocean into the Murray River during winter, but have caught none in the past two years.
Senior researcher Chris Bice suspects the algal bloom may have disrupted the lampreys' upstream migration, while estuarine ecologist Faith Coleman warns the phenomenon's impact on lamprey behavior remains uncertain. The algal bloom, which covered over 20,000 square kilometres in 2025, is estimated to have claimed the lives of approximately 1 million marine animals from more than 600 species.
Despite their fearsome appearance, lampreys pose no threat to humans once they enter freshwater, where they abandon feeding. Researchers remain optimistic the lampryid may reappear in future years as the algal bloom dissipates.
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