Psychological toll of a marine environmental crisis

Eco-anxiety is often associated with acute environmental crises, yet its manifestation during marine ecological events remains underexplored. This study examined psychological responses to a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) in South Australia (2025) among residents (N = 628). Quantitative findings present a cross-sectional snapshot illustrating that the HAB coincided with marked psychological distress, with over 60% of participants reporting rumination (69%) and feelings of personal inefficacy (63%) on several days in the two weeks prior to completing the survey, while 54% experienced affective symptoms and 20% reported behavioural disruptions over the same period. Eco-anxiety subscales correlated positively with ocean visitation frequency (rs = .102–.266, p ≤ .028), and women scored higher than men across all subscales (p ≤ .028). Qualitative data revealed themes of ocean disconnection and wellbeing impacts, suggesting that marine environmental crises can affect mental health and disrupt human–nature relationships. Understanding these impacts is critical for fostering resilience and informing adaptation strategies.