Giant Cuttlefish protection enshrined in law

New legislation to safeguard the Giant Australian Cuttlefish has passed parliament, providing permanent protection for the iconic species.

Within weeks of being elected in 2022, the South Australian Government reinstated full protection for Giant Cuttlefish in South Australian waters, after restrictions were allowed to lapse under the former Liberal government in 2020.

These restrictions are now enshrined in law through The Fisheries Management (Cuttlefish–Northern Spencer Gulf) Amendment Bill 2025 which formalises regulations that prohibit taking cuttlefish in the northern Spencer Gulf. Anyone caught taking Giant Cuttlefish faces a fine of up to $20,000.

The legislation provides greater certainty and longevity for the ban, while maintaining existing allowances for scientific research and monitoring through a permit system.

Each winter, tens of thousands of Giant Cuttlefish gather near Whyalla to spawn, creating an incredible underwater spectacle and attracting visitors and divers from around the world.

The cuttlefish aggregation provides an incredible tourism platform for communities around the Upper Spencer Gulf, and in particular Whyalla.

In making the protection permanent, it gives the community and tourism operators on the Upper Spencer Gulf confidence to continue to build upon what is already a hugely popular nature-based tourism experience, whilst also giving the species the best chance to thrive into the future.