Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia
Protecting the Giant cuttlefish aggregation

The Scuba Divers Federation of South Australia established and hosted the Cuttlefish Alliance to bring together organisations and individuals concerned about protections for the Giant cuttlefish during its breeding season in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

 

In 2013, the population collapsed to only 13,000 individuals. A temporary fishing ban was put in place, and by 2020 the population had recovered to 247,000. The temporary ban was lifted; in 2021 the population fell precipitously to 107,000. A new temporary ban was instated in 2022. With that ban, the population recovered somewhat to 138,000. The SDFSA called for a permanent Cuttlefish fishing ban in the Upper Spencer Gulf during the migration and breeding season, between 1st May through to 31st July, supporting online and hard copy petitions to the SA parliament. For more on this story, read our Oct-Nov Newsletter, at https://sdfsa.net/…/2022/11/2022-11-SDFSA-Newsletter.pdf. 

In 2021, we set up a Facebook page for the Cuttlefish Alliance to gather and share information, petitions, and campaigns to encourage PIRSA to reconsider restrictions on fishing for Giant Cuttlefish. An Advisory Committee was convened to prepare recommendations to take to PIRSA, based on science and the value of the Giant Cuttlefish migration to the economy of Whyalla and South Australia. Members of the Committee included representatives from Whyalla Council, the dive industry, Experiencing Marine Sanctuaries, SDFSA, and a scientist (cephalopod expert).

Efforts by the scientific community, SDFSA and other stakeholders across the State were successful and there is now a permanent ban on catching giant cuttlefish in the northern Spencer Gulf of South Australia,  enshrined in state law under the Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish – Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill 2025. The Cuttlefish Sanctuary Zone is also now listed as a National Heritage Site.