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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-16 Daily Xml
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Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish—Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:59): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Fisheries Management Act 2007. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (16:01): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am very pleased to introduce the Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish—Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill 2025. In South Australia we are lucky to have the iconic and unique population of giant Australian cuttlefish that aggregate each year near Point Lowly. Witnessing these majestic species during their spawning period is an incredible experience that draws in national and international visitors to the area.

This government seeks to continue the prohibition on the take of cuttlefish in northern Spencer Gulf through arrangements in the Fisheries Management Act 2007 to provide more certainty and permanency of the existing regulated closure. In 2023, this government regulated this spatial closure under the Fisheries Management (General) Regulations 2017, and we now seek to give this species the highest level of protection we can within the legislative framework.

The giant Australian cuttlefish is an iconic species in South Australia. Each winter, tens of thousands of giant Australian cuttlefish aggregate on a discrete area of rocky reef in northern Spencer Gulf to spawn. The aggregation of giant Australian cuttlefish in northern Spencer Gulf is the only known dense spawning aggregation of this species in the world.

The proposed amendment to the act seeks to ensure the long-term protection of the species is embedded into legislation to maintain this protection for the species now and for future generations. The bill I present today has been considered by key stakeholders, including our important fishing sectors and regional parties, as part of a consultation process undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

It is important to note that, while the bill seeks to move the current cuttlefish closure into the act, the location and size of the closure area remains constant. As such, the amendment is not expected to impose any new or additional restrictions on commercial, recreational or traditional fishers. The fishing prohibition relates only to the take of cuttlefish species and will not therefore restrict the take of southern calamari or octopus within this closure area.

The Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish—Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill institutes a permanent spatial closure for the ongoing protection of the cuttlefish, as well as providing certainty for investments and tourism opportunities around northern Spencer Gulf. I commend the Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish—Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill 2025 to the council and look forward to further debate. I seek leave to have the explanation of clauses inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

2—Commencement

These clauses are formal.

Part 2—Amendment of Fisheries Management Act 2007

3—Insertion of section 75A

This clause inserts new section 75A as follows:

75A—Taking of cuttlefish in certain waters of Spencer Gulf

Proposed section 75A provides that, unless a person is authorised by a permit issued by the Minister, it is an offence for the person to take cuttlefish (Sepia spp) in the northern waters of Spencer Gulf.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. B.R. Hood.

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