Australia Protects Cuttlefish with Temporary Ban

By Josephine Lim

Topic: Tourism and Leisure

Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 1:25 pm

Giant Australian cuttlefish migrate to the upper Spencer Gulf for breeding.

In short:

Boat tours and water activities will be banned in the cuttlefish zone.

The government says the ban is needed to protect the cuttlefish, which have low numbers this year.

What's next?

Tour operators can apply for financial help from the government.

A temporary ban starts in South Australia to protect the giant Australian cuttlefish breeding site.

The 90-day ban will be in the cuttlefish sanctuary zone between Black Point and Stony Point.

The waters off Whyalla usually have many cuttlefish, but some boat operators had to cancel tours due to low numbers.

Environment Minister Emily Bourke said the latest survey showed very low numbers this year.

This area is where cuttlefish lay eggs and breed, so it's essential to minimize the impact on them.

Tour operators and activities like swimming and diving will be banned from the area.

Tours can operate at Point Lowly.

The green area marks the temporary exclusion zone for water activities.

The minister warned that breaching the zone could result in heavy penalties.

If people enter the restricted area, they could get a warning or a fine of up to $100,000.

'Can't argue with nature'

The decision to impose a ban was made after speaking with local tour operators and the Whyalla City Council.

The temporary ban could be lifted if the cuttlefish numbers improve.

Impacted tour operators can apply for the government's support grant for small businesses.

Emily Bourke says the temporary restriction aims to protect the giant Australian cuttlefish.

Matt Waller stopped his tour season due to low cuttlefish numbers.

Matt Waller said they run a business and take risks when working with the environment, and they have good and bad years.

If the numbers are over 100,000, the ban might be lifted, but keeping people out is about covering worst fears before they happen.

Everyone agrees that the cuttlefish need to be protected.

Matt Waller says everyone agrees that the cuttlefish need protection.

Boat operator Steve Storic is continuing to run tours from Whyalla and has seen recent cuttlefish sightings.

Steve Storic said they've started seeing regular cuttlefish sightings on tours, but not in high numbers.

The decision to protect the cuttlefish is due to the low numbers, and the ban will help minimize disturbance.

The ban will keep foot traffic out of the area and help the cuttlefish with egg laying.

Steve Storic runs boat tours out of Whyalla.

Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone said some businesses are disappointed, but the temporary restriction will pay off in the long term.

The fact that there are few cuttlefish around means they need protection, and the temporary ban is necessary.

Many tourism operators are disappointed, but they have to adapt to the situation.

Closing the cuttlefish tour season may result in cancelled accommodation bookings.

The lack of cuttlefish tours will negatively impact Whyalla's income, but people can still visit for other activities.

There are still dolphins, crabs, and snapper to see, so glass-bottom boat tours can continue.

Algal bloom possibly linked to reduced cuttlefish numbers

Mike Steer said the latest count found significantly reduced cuttlefish numbers, and the temporary ban aims to protect them.

The goal is to encourage spawning and successful egg hatching by leaving the cuttlefish undisturbed.

The temporary ban aims to protect cuttlefish eggs and hatchlings.

Professor Steer said several factors, including the algal bloom, could have caused the reduced cuttlefish arrivals.

The algal bloom was present in the northern part of the gulf during late December and January, which might be linked to the low cuttlefish numbers.

There may be a connection between the algal bloom and the reduced cuttlefish numbers.

Temperature and food availability drive cephalopod population, including cuttlefish, calamari, and octopus.

Professor Steer said not all hope is lost, as the cuttlefish population bounced back within three years after historic low numbers in 2013.

The cuttlefish population can respond quickly to favorable environmental conditions.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 1:25 pm

Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 7:22 pm

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Promotion

Práctica de escucha