<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Small fishing businesses are bearing the brunt of South Australia's algal bloom, as the devastating marine crisis scares people away from the industry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Steve Kontos has run Insane Fishing Charters out of Port Victoria for the past six years and has seen business dwindle since the bloom erupted in March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our phone will be ringing with at least a bit of interest. Now there's no interest for three months," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-work-from-home-office-vacancy-rates/9de14011-76c4-486f-a178-4aafa6096cea" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Why office vacancy rates have spiked to a 30-year high</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's kind of scary because the algal bloom has obviously affected not just my business, but every other business that comes with it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In Glenelg, Reel 'N' Deal Tackle owner Troy Chonenko has seen his dozens of customers drop to just one or two.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some days we've only done $15 for the whole day," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/south-australia-algal-bloom-leaves-small-fishing-businesses-making-as-little-as-15-a-day/705c3137-2afd-4f52-9aa2-c0cafdd64ccb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chonenko has had to borrow from the bank of mum and dad just to stay afloat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I personally haven't ordered any stock other than just little tiny top-ups of a couple $100, because it's simply can't play for bills at the moment," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/anz-surprise-interest-rate-hike/9f2eab99-565e-4fba-8e3e-c8305581fc2b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Big four bank's shock rate hike ahead of expected RBA cut</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair believe people have been fearful of consuming fish, despite the state government's reassurances that fish, crabs, prawns, lobsters and squid are safe to eat if they are cleaned and gutted thoroughly before cooking. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The government took so long to act on it," Chonenko said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I haven't pulled up a sick-looking fish yet, or a smelly-looking fish. Everything's all above board," Kontos said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The fishing is better than ever, to be honest with you, and it's just a shame that a lot of businesses are being affected by it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state government has approved $10,000 grants for businesses affected by the algal bloom, but that is just a drop in the ocean for the two small business owners who fear they may go under.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's just a Band-Aid. They need to work on fixing the issue," Kontos said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rio-tinto-looking-to-cut-annual-sick-leave-down-from-45-to-12-days-for-iron-ore-workers/607a605a-f24e-4da1-aa2c-e39db8178cd0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Rio Tinto moves to slash sick leave from 45 to 12 days for Pilbara workers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The South Australian government has also approved $8.5 million for a coastal monitoring network, $2 million for a new national testing laboratory, $3 million for a rapid assessment program and $2 million for a community fund.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The unprecedented algal bloom has spread to Adelaide's metropolitan beaches, Port River and West Lakes, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Spencer Gulf, the Coorong's North Lagoon, the coastline between Victor Harbor and Robe and the Eyre Peninsula.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has killed at least 200 marine animals and caused discoloured water and foam.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The bloom is believed to have been caused by a recent marine heatwave and events dating back to 2022 that brought and lifted nutrients into the sea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nothing can be done to dilute or dissipate the bloom.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have been calls to label the algal bloom a natural disaster, with the Greens calling for federal intervention.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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