DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

T he Whyalla cuttlefish season is upon us and divers and snorkellers are flocking to Whyalla to witness first-hand the 17-18,000 visitors are expected to visit the Stony Point site near Whyalla this year. There are plans to take this into account for the future. The plan is to develop a “significant visitor amenity for Whyalla’s Cuttlefish Coast”. “The project’s objectives include the collaborative development of concept plans for visitor infrastructure aimed at supporting safe and meaningful visitor experiences while enhancing the strategic management of the Cuttlefish Coast’s cultural, environmental and scientific values.” “All planning will take into account the future growth of the site(s), with long-term sustainability, environment protection and management.” The Whyalla dive shop may now have been renovated to “create a comprehensive service centre for in-depth maintenance, repairs, and equipment servicing”. Why Dive are strong advocates for conservation, and they hope to “collaborate with marine researchers by providing in-kind support, including dive gear, air-fills, cameras, and other essential equipment to facilitate ongoing research into the cuttlefish and other local marine life”. This may include the possibility of setting up a compressor on-site to allow divers to stay out at Point Lowly for longer periods.” After some six years, the Shark Champions group is now no more, but they said that Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and Humane Society International Australia (HSI) will continue the fight for sharks and rays in Australia. AMCS will primarily focus conservation efforts on fishery related issues, including saving the Maugean skate from imminent extinction. HSI will primarily focus on ensuring NSW and QLD Governments fully modernise bather safety,

ending shark culling in Australia for good. AMCS and HSI will continue to collaborate across all issues and ensure that threatened species of sharks and rays in Australia are given the protection they deserve and qualify for under Australian law. Speaking of shark and ray protection, eagle rays and smooth rays aggregate in shallow water at Seacliff in South Australia. Unfortunately, some of them are harassed, injured or killed. This aggregation is on a par with Whyalla’s cuttlefish, Rapid Bay’s seadragons and the Port River dolphins. The rays need to be protected to preserve the aggregation. The government has installed signage that may help. They have also produced a pamphlet outlining fishing restrictions, and that may help too. Another thing that may help is newly increased penalties for animal abuse. Fines of $250,000 to $1m can be given, and prison sentences of ten years can be applied. So we now have increased penalties, but one observer thinks that penalties “are useless unless the courts uphold them”. According to https://bit.ly/41leDma , “The definition of an animal has also been broadened to include fish, bringing South Australia into line with the rest of the nation. The inclusion of fish aims to address cruel practices such as harvesting shark fins and stingray tails.” There is a live camera under cover at the Seacliff SLSC that allows you to check out the beach & sea conditions before you make the trip down to Seacliff to view the rays there. The Marine Life Society of SA has posted some video footage of the Seacliff rays on YouTube.

Source: Marine Life Society of SA

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 June 25

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