<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An underwater mission is currently underway to carry out crucial tests on the toxic algal bloom lingering off the South Australian coast. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The drones deployed from the Great Southern Ranger vessel, aims to provide crucial data on the extent of the environmental damage caused by the algae, investigating the damage up close.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's an important trip. It's the first time we've been able to get to some of these sites and give us some good information to see what we think going forward," Professor Gavin Begg 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><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-china-visit-updates-chinese-state-media-lavishes-praise-on-australia/4486b93a-76c9-4709-a737-5b9bef9eb0fb"><strong><span>Chinese state media publishes glowing praise of Anthony Albanese</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, some say it should have happened weeks ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They'd had their first meeting of a taskforce to send a boat out to monitor," federal Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This should have been happening weeks and weeks ago."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/underwater-drones-toxic-algae-south-australia/6bcf8e5c-12e2-4730-9e9e-bde36ff96109" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A community meeting held at Seacliff highlighted the widespread frustration, with hundreds demanding increased action and attention. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-ipswich-court-man-charged-with-manslaughter-over-babys-campsite-drowning-to-seek-bail/29b8cb60-cae0-4d6d-894f-27cd4c17cfd9"><strong><span>Man charged with manslaughter over baby's campsite drowning to seek bail</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They've taken too long to start to monitor this properly. They've taken too long to provide any assistance," state opposition MP Nicola Centofanti said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state government hasn't heard back from federal counterparts about if and when the bloom will be declared a national disaster, but many are concerned the decision is taking too long.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Peter Malinauskas, pick up the phone mate and call the prime minister," Hanson-Young said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ask him for his help…</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The South Australian government have been caught flat-footed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>