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Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Cuttlefish bring great benefits to Whyalla
Local divers are reporting record numbers of Giant Australian Cuttlefish at Point Lowly for the 2016 season.
Cuttlefish numbers dropped to a record low of 13,492 in 2013, but have been significantly increasing since the 2014 season, with 57,317 individual cuttlefish recorded in 2014, and 130,771 in 2015.
Local divers and visitors that have observed the cuttlefish throughout the 2016 season believe a further increase in cuttlefish numbers will be recorded for the 2016 season.
The Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregation migrates to the Point Lowly Peninsula between May and August, and is unique to the area due to the rocky ledges.
Divers are arriving from right across Australia and from overseas, with local accommodation operators reporting positive occupancy numbers.
The aggregation has also been attracting extensive media and scientific interest, with representatives from BBC World, Diveplanit, GetLost and the Nature of Science, to name a few.
Whyalla City Council is working towards creating a sustainable tourism industry based around the cuttlefish aggregation, with the council spending about $77,000 to develop a road to improve access to the cuttlefish breeding zones.
Additional funds have also been budgeted for in this financial year for the installation of additional facilities for divers and tourists wishing to experience and learn about the cuttlefish.
Whyalla City Council acting mayor Tom Antonio said the people that visited Whyalla to experience the Giant Australian Cuttlefish added an injection in to the city’s economy.
“Tourists visiting Whyalla to see the cuttlefish often spend their money within the city, paying for accommodation, fuel, food, and other items during their stay, the dive market can be quite lucrative,” Mr Antonio said.
“We are incredibly lucky and unique in the world to have such numbers migrating to our coastline each year to spawn, and they play a major part in attracting tourists from all over the country, as well as from overseas.”
Mr Antonio said while the water was cold, local diving operators could provide all the equipment needed to enjoy the rare phenomenon.
“Diving or snorkeling to see the cuttlefish in the middle of winter is not for the faint hearted, but once you see them it is well worth it,” Mr Antonio said.
“There are specialist suits that can keep people comfortable so that they can stay underwater for about 45 to 60 minutes to get the most out of their dive and to see and film the cuttlefish up close and personal in their natural habitat.
“The animals are not very deep down, and we are lucky enough to experience some wonderfully sunny days during winter, so people can easily snorkel to watch the giant cuttlefish perform their colourful displays as they spawn.”
For more information about the cuttlefish visit Whyalla City Council’s website, www.whyalla.sa.gov.au