Giant Australian Cuttlefish

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the actions the government is taking to protect the giant Australian cuttlefish?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this iconic species. It was my pleasure last week to be in Whyalla with the local member for Giles, the Hon. Eddie Hughes MP, to announce that the giant Australian cuttlefish would once again be protected in the northern waters of the Upper Spencer Gulf.

The giant Australian cuttlefish does live up to its name: it is the largest of all the cuttlefish species, with males growing to a particularly big size, I'm told, of up to 50 centimetres long and weighing up to 10 kilograms. I was told by Matt, who runs the Cuttys glass-bottom boat tours, that they get closer to a metre long, and I did see some quite large ones while I was there in Whyalla. However, Matt did also advise that he doesn't let facts get in the way of a good story, so I don't know if he is spinning me a line or not, but certainly the giant cuttlefish are significant in their size.

Giant Australian cuttlefish can be found across most southern coastal waters of Australia and from the Ningaloo Reef in WA to the east coast of Queensland. Each winter, tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish aggregate to spawn on a discrete area of rocky reef in the Northern Spencer Gulf. 'Why is this special?' you might ask. I am glad you asked. The dense spawning aggregation of giant Australian cuttlefish is the only known event of its type anywhere in the world—the only known event of its type anywhere in the world.

During the breeding process, male cuttlefish put on an amazing display of colours and shapes to attract a mate. It makes for a spectacular show. The natural phenomenon and the sheer numbers of the species that congregate in the waters of the Upper Spencer Gulf make this a tourism drawcard for our state and, in particular, the regional areas around the Upper Spencer Gulf, particularly Whyalla. In one of the great nature-based experiences not only in the state but the world, many tourists and locals alike brave the cold winter waters and snorkel or dive amongst the giant Australian cuttlefish during the spawning aggregation.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: What's the government doing?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I am told that if you are moving slowly enough you can get quite close to these majestic creatures because they tend to have one thing and one thing only on their mind: they are said, because of that, to appear oblivious to humans who take the opportunity to watch this amazing spectacle. Of course, it is a case of respecting their space and most certainly looking but not touching.

Visiting Whyalla last week, we were fortunate to experience this world-class phenomenon aboard Cuttys boat tours on their brand-new glass-bottom boat. Much as I would have loved to have braved the cold winter waters of the Upper Spencer Gulf last week and dive in to see these amazing creatures, I thought it best on this occasion to stay dry and warm. I can say, though, that I didn't miss very much of this extraordinary experience because the glass-bottom boat gives you an amazing perspective and full appreciation of what we witnessed with these incredible creatures. It was a wonderful reminder of the importance of this closure to the region and the many visitors who will be able to visit Whyalla throughout the cuttlefish aggregation season from May to August.

The giant Australian cuttlefish has been subject to protection for many years through a permanent cephalopod fishing closure from Point Lowly to Whyalla. This closure also includes squid and octopus within the protected zone. However, numbers over the years have fluctuated and, in 2013, SARDI reported that the giant Australian cuttlefish population had decreased by approximately 90 per cent over a 13-year period—a decrease of 90 per cent. In response to this, in April 2013, the then government put in place a spatial closure of the fishing of this species in waters north of a line between Arno Bay and Wallaroo.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: The fishing closure expired in February 2020 under the former Liberal government.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: No doubt this is the crux of the reason we are having so many interjections from those opposite, calling out and interjecting because they are ashamed that the former Liberal government failed to continue this closure. If they are not ashamed, they should be—they certainly should be. This is an iconic species and the former Liberal government failed to continue the protection of cuttlefish that had been so successful in restoring their numbers.

The annual assessment of the giant Australian cuttlefish in 2021—that is, the year following the former government letting the spatial fishing closure in the Upper Spencer Gulf expire—saw the lowest number recorded in seven years, at approximately 107,847 individuals, which I am advised was down from 247,146 the year prior to the ban lapsing on the Liberals' watch. So I am very pleased to say, in answer to the Hon. Mr Wade's question about what the government is doing, that the Malinauskas Labor government has delivered on its election commitment to reinstate the spatial closure of fishing for giant Australian cuttlefish in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: That's right. This will assist to protect and preserve one of the natural wonders of South Australian marine life and support the huge potential that exists for nature-based tourism in places such as Whyalla. Importantly, the spatial closure of fishing for cuttlefish—so that's that large closure—will not impact on fishing for calamari, particularly in the marine scale fishery, as they can continue to be harvested in the area of that large closure.

I am advised that previous cuttlefish fishing closures in the Upper Spencer Gulf have not appeared to reduce the harvest of calamari. This decision aligns with a significant investment by governments and the Whyalla city council over the years in tourism infrastructure to support and facilitate the numbers of people who want to share in this experience.

By ensuring that the cuttlefish are protected in an area of such importance to their life cycle and breeding it is hoped that their numbers cannot only remain sustainable but grow further. This is vitally important to the regions around the Upper Spencer Gulf, which need this shapeshifting, colour changing chameleon of the sea—shall I say that again, this shapeshifting, colour changing chameleon of the sea; it was just such a good description—to continue to thrive, bringing with it more tourists to the region who can enjoy the experiences to be had both in the water and on the land.

I would like to thank the honourable Eddie Hughes, member for Giles, for his tireless advocacy for this change, on behalf of his constituents. I would also like to recognise his achievement—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —in having the cuttlefish closure put back in place, which is good news of course for the cuttlefish but also for tourism and jobs in his electorate, and in our state. The Whyalla City Council was also very active in the space, and they are doing an excellent job in terms of maximising the tourism benefits of the cuttlefish closure.

The PRESIDENT: Just before we go into supplementary questions, minister, that was an extremely long Dorothy Dixer. You got a fair bit of leeway because it was about Whyalla, but I can't be that parochial and partial all the time. So I expect those Dorothy Dixers to be within that four to five-minute range.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: No, I can't be biased all the time about Whyalla. So supplementary question from the Hon. Mr Pangallo.