GIANT CUTTLEFISH

The Hon. M. PARNELL (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Regional Development—also in her capacity as Minister for Tourism—regarding the catastrophic drop-off in cuttlefish numbers at Point Lowly.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: According to the local economic development board, Whyalla is renowned for being the cuttlefish capital of the world due to the annual migration of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish to the Whyalla coastline for spawning during the period May to August. As someone who has experienced that event firsthand, I can assure the council that the annual cuttlefish aggregation is indeed a breathtaking event. Where else in the world can you step off the beach straight into a David Attenborough wildlife documentary?

Because of the importance of the cuttlefish to the Whyalla region, a major tourism interpretive facility has been proposed to showcase and provide education about cuttlefish and their breeding characteristics. Tourism is a critical industry for the region, bringing in over $250 million per year to the regional economy, so it is devastating to hear that this breeding season is shaping up as the worst for decades.

Local diver Tony Bramley was on radio yesterday morning expressing his enormous frustration at the lack of government protection for the critical ecological site. When asked the question, 'Is the government doing enough?' he replied:

No, they're not doing anything like enough...even if it was just to exercise a duty of care, I think they're just taking the easy option, they'll do enough to wave the flag, get some votes but they are not doing anything concrete, they're not making any kind of commitment in resources or money or anything, they're just bandaiding things and doing things in reaction to people making a noise, making a fuss, but there's no initiative, there's no government-led embracing of this magnificent event and the end result...we've lost it and we're just seeing the last few animals out there now...

Even now, not all the breeding sites at Point Lowly are protected from commercial fishing and there has been a breathtaking lack of government action apart from a commitment to measure the numbers as they continue to freefall. This is despite significant concern from marine experts that the Whyalla breeding aggregation of the giant Australian cuttlefish is in real danger of disappearing, possibly forever. I understand that there has been significant buck-passing in government between various departments, with no agency prepared to take responsibility for coordinating action.

Early in June, when the first pictures started to emerge about the lack of strength of this year's season, I called for the establishment of an emergency taskforce to coordinate a response. This morning, the Mayor of Whyalla, Jim Pollock, backed that call, adding that losing the aggregation would be devastating for Whyalla. To give a sense of the likely impact on the town, I understand that usually 1,000 people visit to dive over the June long weekend, and this year there was only 100. My questions of the minister are:

1. As Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Tourism, and in light of the strategic importance of this aggregation to eco-tourism development in the region, what have you done in response to the devastating drop-off in cuttlefish numbers at Point Lowly?

2. Which government agency or department should be taking the lead in coordinating a response to this crisis?

3. What will you as Minister for Regional Development and Minister for Tourism do personally to ensure that this worrying hit to the Whyalla region is being given appropriate attention by the state government?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his most important question and, indeed, there are some very serious concerns about the drop in cuttlefish numbers. The science is still out on what is affecting these numbers, and whether the drop in numbers is part of routine cycles of variation or whether there is something else operating, and a great deal of work is in place to consider those matters.

A large spawning aggregation of the giant cuttlefish normally occurs in areas adjacent to Point Lowly in the northern Spencer Gulf between March and September each year. This is the largest known aggregation of giant cuttlefish in the world and it is something which is highly valued, not only by local residents but also by the tourism industry and the recreational diving sector. Giant cuttlefish aggregate in the area because of their habitat preferences for breeding—hard rocky substrate to lay eggs, and clear, calm water. The presence of suitable prey species may be another contributing factor.

A temporary closure notice, issued under section 79 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007, prohibits the taking of squid, cuttlefish and octopus at all times in the waters of False Bay near Whyalla. The closure, which has been renewed annually, ensures a large percentage of the spawning biomass of giant cuttlefish is protected and allowed to spawn each year. The closure covers an area where something like, I have been advised, 92 to 98 per cent of the total statewide catch of cuttlefish was historically taken; so this area still remains open to commercial and recreational fishers targeting other species.

There has been a very low level of targeting giant cuttlefish in South Australia since the majority of the spawning aggregation area was closed to fishing in 1998. Whilst it is permitted to be taken by a number of commercial fisheries, the current statewide commercial harvest is negligible and has not exceeded, I am advised, 15 tonnes per annum in the last 10 years. Given the spatial management arrangements in place through the closure, fishing is not considered to pose a threat to the seasonal aggregation. The closure is monitored by fisheries officers, and patrols have not detected any noncompliant activity this season, which is the latest advice that I have received.

A SARDI dive team was deployed to commence a further survey of the giant cuttlefish numbers in the closed area in late 2011 and to scope out considerations regarding the development of a more comprehensive survey design. Natural variability in giant cuttlefish abundance and recruitment is influenced by the impacts of environmental factors such as water temperature and circulation, weather patterns and suchlike.

Variation in population numbers is obviously considered normal. However, because of the lack of comprehensive longitudinal data, it is difficult to make comparisons to know how close this fits a natural cycle or whether this is some significant aberration, but the data that has been collected in recent years will stand us in very good stead.

However, whilst current fishing levels are not considered to be posing a risk to the cuttlefish population, as a precautionary approach in an environment of uncertainty, the former minister announced a move to afford the giant cuttlefish aggregation additional protection under the act while information is being gathered to help understand what is actually going on with that population.

The government has received commonwealth assistance to monitor the breeding and habitat of the giant cuttlefish. SARDI has obtained a grant of over $74,000 from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, in addition to its own contribution over the next two years, to support a monitoring and evaluation program for giant cuttlefish, with particular reference to population biomass, water quality and also habitat condition. Submissions are being prepared to make the existing temporary closure in False Bay a permanent and ongoing closure via regulation to close an additional small area adjacent to the Port Lowly headland.