Antinuclear

Giant cuttlefish – a unique species under threat – especially relating to Olympic Dam uranium mine

Let us not forget that the giant cuttlefish has only one breeding ground in the whole world. And that is in Upper Spencer Gulf  – where BHP Billiton would put its desalination plant -as part of its project for the world’s biggest uranium mine at Olympic Dam.    The breeding ground depends on a very special, and delicate, balance of fresh and salt water.– CM 

Green group demands cuttlefish study’s release http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-08/green-group-demands-better-giant-cuttlefish/4185184   August 08, 2012  The Conservation Council of South Australia is calling on the State Government to release the results of a recent study on the population of giant Australian cuttlefish near Point Lowly.

Conservation Council CEO Tim Kelly says the Government needs to announce a plan of action and immediately put the cuttlefish on a protected species list.

Mr Kelly says the Government, scientists and others need to pool their resources and knowledge to help save the cuttlefish.

“I think it would be really good if the Government released its current action plan for the recovery of the cuttlefish straight away, certainly as soon as possible, and commit to a really solid response to this,” he said. “This is a very serious problem – we don’t want to lose species in South Australia.”

In recent years divers and conservationists have found fewer
cuttlefish aggregating for the breeding season in the region.

The species is currently protected in an exclusion zone near False Bay
and Point Lowly.

Mr Kelly says cuttlefish need to be protected across the middle to
Upper Spencer Gulf region, to try to restore the population. “At the
moment, outside the exclusion zone, people can still fish 15
cuttlefish per person or 45 per boat per day and we’re saying this
population is in crisis and it needs protection right now, so
everything that can be done must be done urgently,” he said.

Fisheries Minister Gail Gago says the study’s results are not yet
ready for release.

She says a working group is receiving input from the conservation
council and local councils and will initiate a discussion soon.

August 9, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, South Australia