Viewing: Cephalopods
April 30, 2014
Report Sightings of Giant Australian Cuttlefish in SA Waters
Giant Australian Cuttlefish occur right across southern Australia, but one of the most interesting aspects of their biology is that they aggregate to breed near Point Lowly in northern Spencer Gulf in South Australia. This is the only known breeding aggregation of Giant Cuttlefish in the world, but in recent years the numbers on this breeding aggregation have declined and we aren’t sure why. Recreational SCUBA divers, and commercial fishers, boaters and scientists are being invited to spot, log and…
Posted in Cephalopods, Citizen Science | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
April 30, 2009
Diving in Port Lincoln (and more on cuttlefish attacks)
(As told to Steve Reynolds by Phil Porter) Phil Porter from Port Lincoln recently became a new MLSSA member. Phil said that he has been diving in the Port Lincoln area for many years. He did a FAUI scuba course in 1981, and has been into photography since that time. “My main interest has always been the incredible local marine life, and I had built up a great collection of hundreds of photos of both fish and invertebrates. Unfortunately, I…
Posted in Cephalopods, Dive Reports, Maritime History | By Steve Reynolds
October 30, 2007
Australian Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama)
Author: Dr Robert Browne, Seadragon Foundation Inc. Prelude: The document is an expanded excerpt for a “Conservation Guide” for the proposed BHP Billiton Desalination Plant at Port Bonython, Upper Spencer Gulf. The evolving “Conservation Guide” is available at (SFI 2007). http://www.seadragonfoundation.org/SFI%20Articles/Articles.htm The Australian giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama), protected syngnathids, recreational and commercial fish, and unique ecosystems are of significance to the sustainable management of marine biodiversity in the Port Bonython area (SFI 2007). Port Bonython is located on Point Lowly. The Australian…
Posted in Cephalopods, Marine Protected Areas | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
December 30, 2006
Sepia apama, the Giant Australian Cuttlefish of Whyalla, SA
Author: Evan John One of the most spectacular events of the natural marine world takes place annually between May and August in the reef areas of upper Spencer Gulf, around Black Point, Point Lowly and Fitzgerald Bay, north of the town of Whyalla, on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Fig. 1. Sepia Apama It is here that the giant Australian cuttlefish, Sepia apama, migrate in the thousands to mate and spawn. The low rocky reef areas provide a hard rocky surface on…
Posted in Cephalopods, Marine Protected Areas | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
June 30, 2006
My Story on the Nasty Cuttlefish of SA
Location: Port Moorowie, Yorke Peninsula (Sometime in March 2006) Geoff Prince and I were diving together in shallow water of 5m along a reef to the right of the Port Moorowie boat ramp. This is a glorious place and I recommend that you take a look at it. We plan to go there again in winter when we’re not searching for crays, so I can take my camera. I digress… I was sticking my head into holes, under ledges, etc…..
Posted in Cephalopods, Dive Reports | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
November 7, 2001
Cuttlefish in the media
I read our last MLSSA Journal (No.11) with great interest and enjoyed all of the articles including the one by Alex Gaut about cuttles. I managed to check out the ‘Cuttlefish Capital’ website and was very impressed with the webpage. The cuttlefish at Whyalla featured on Channel 7’s “Discover” program on 30/1/01 and I was duly enthused. Three of Alex’s references were by Karina Hall from SARDI who was the guest speaker at our February meeting. I enjoyed her talk…
Posted in Cephalopods | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.
December 30, 2000
The Amazing Giant Cuttlefish (Sepia apama)
When diving in southern Australian waters, there are few creatures more stunningly beautiful AND intelligent than the cephalopods. The entire family has the ability to rapidly change colours to camouflage, court and communicate, and they have the largest brains of any known marine invertebrate group. They exhibit a wide range of behaviours that indicate intelligence including learning and curiosity, and they are, above all, utterly charming. Surprisingly cuttles (they are not fish, ergo I do not use the common term…
Posted in Cephalopods, Marine Protected Areas | By Alex Gaut
July 6, 2000
Sex – Cuttlefish Style
Whyalla’s self-proclamation as the “Cuttle Capital” of Australia is absolutely true, for three months of the year – winter. From May to August, giant cuttles (Sepia apama) migrate from all over (scientists aren’t sure how far) to gather in False Bay, Whyalla and have a three month long sexfest! I went to Whyalla with eleven other divers to experience this awesome spectacle. We went first to the most famous spot to see the cuttles, an inconspicuous-looking place simply called ‘the…
Posted in Cephalopods | By Alex Gaut
September 30, 1998
Update On Giant Australian Cuttlefish Protection 1998
In my “News in Brief” report in our May 1998 Newsletter I stated that the Whyalla Sports Diving Club was trying to protect cuttlefish breeding grounds. A report in The Advertiser later reported a group of people taking more than 230kg of cuttlefish from a closed area near Point Lowly. Another report in The Advertiser then said that huge numbers of cuttlefish were being caught by recreational anglers in the Whyalla area, prompting the introduction of a bag limit for…
Posted in Cephalopods, Marine Protected Areas | By Steve Reynolds
July 1, 1998
Cuttlefish closure and new recreational fishing regulations 1998
The following notice was recently received from PIRSA (Primary Industries and Resources SA) dated 22nd May 1998: “The Government, on advice from the Minister for Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Regional Development, has reviewed the management arrangements introduced for the cuttlefish fishery on 25th February 1998. Recreational bag/boat limits have now been introduced for cuttlefish throughout South Australia. These measures now include the closure of all waters of Spencer Gulf within an area bounded by a line commencing at the Point Lowly lighthouse, then…
Posted in Cephalopods | By Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.