Record cuttlefish numbers in 2020 Whyalla breeding season, as locals call for fishing ban
A push to reinstate a ban on angling for cuttlefish off Whyalla has become a tougher sell with new data revealing efforts to restore their numbers have been wildly successful.
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Cuttlefish advocates face an uphill battle to win support for a ban on fishing the animals near Whyalla, as new data found numbers at Point Lowly had doubled in 12 months.
Their population during this year’s spawning period was estimated at a record 247,146.
The previous high was 182,585 in 1999.
In 2013, there were 13,492 giant Australian cuttlefish and a permanent ban was placed on fishing cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish and octopus) at False Bay.
A temporary ban was also introduced for the Northern Spencer Gulf, but after the population rebuilt, that lapsed this year.
The local council, dive operators and local MP Eddie Hughes have been lobbying for it to be reinstated – worried about the population’s future.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said on the back of the data scientific advice showed fishing outside False Bay had a negligible impact on cuttlefish numbers and he has no plans to bring back the closure “at this time”.
However, he said a cuttlefish working group will meet later this year to consider the latest science and stakeholder views before he decides on arrangements for 2021.
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“Since 2013, the South Australian Government has contributed $860,000 of funding for SARDI research to ensure we understand as much as possible about this species and have adequate management in place,” Mr Basham said.
Whyalla Council visitor operations co-ordinator Teresa Coles said locals, continuing their fight, were concerned a bigger impact would be seen next year when fishers had the chance to target cuttlefish as they made their way in to breed.
This year, most were not set up before the animals arrived.