Recent sightings of southern calamari in South Australian waters previously depleted by a harmful algal bloom offer promising signs of recovery. While the species faces ongoing challenges in the Gulf of St Vincent, appearances off Kangaroo Island and at Port Elliot suggest resilience.
Encouraging Sightings Emerge
A large squid appeared off Kangaroo Island, with Research and Discovery Coastal Tours spotting the first in nearly a year on Easter Sunday. The tour shared on social media, “Nature is resilient.”
At Port Elliot, local fisher Andy Alford reports small squid returning to Encounter Bay over the past four weeks. “It’s actually taken them a long time to come back here from other areas and I’d suggest it’s because most of our area was completely decimated,” he stated. Alford calls for a 12-month fishing ban to aid full recovery. “I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt anybody to go another year to get a few, just to help the ecosystem out,” he added.
Algal Bloom’s Lasting Impact
The algal bloom that struck in early 2025 wiped out southern calamari and other marine life across key areas, including the Gulf of St Vincent, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, the South-East, and Yorke Peninsula. Although the bloom has largely subsided, a persistent patch lingers on the western side of Yorke Peninsula near Moonta Bay, Port Hughes, and Port Victoria.
Fishers Push for Extended Restrictions
Recreational fishing bag limits in the Gulf of St Vincent and around Kangaroo Island, set to expire in July, should remain longer, fishers argue. Calamari fishers warn that lifting restrictions in mid-2026 could jeopardize the industry.
RecFish SA executive director Asher Dezsery notes feedback from a network of 300,000 members and tackle shops favors giving squid more time. Small numbers appear in Spencer Gulf, with limited eggs reported in the last breeding season. “They’re certainly in strife in the Gulf of St Vincent, so we want to do what we can to look after them,” Dezsery said. “We are seeing limited eggs being reported through the last breeding season, and some fish turning up, but we really need to start the conversation of how we can help these recover and what recovery looks like moving forward.”
Squid Biology Supports Quick Rebound
SA Research and Development Institute (SARDI) executive director Mike Steer calls southern calamari the “rock stars of the ocean” for their fast life cycle. “[This] means they can reproduce really quickly over short timeframes and respond quickly,” Steer explained. With a lifespan of 12 to 18 months, they grow rapidly and spawn prolifically toward the end.
“They’re really fast growers and then, towards the end of their life cycle, they prolifically reproduce, so the squid you buy in the seafood shops are anywhere from six to 12 months old,” he noted. Calamari spawn year-round in clear waters, eliminating the need to wait for specific seasons.
Ongoing Monitoring Efforts
SARDI tracks populations through commercial sampling, bycatch analysis, targeted surveys by contracted fishers, and diver egg searches. The species remains heavily impacted in the Gulf of St Vincent. Commercial catches in Spencer Gulf have declined since September 2025.
Data aligns with PIRSA’s Algal Bloom Fish Recovery plan, featuring public decision rules that trigger management changes. “We’ll provide that information to decision-makers and they’ll make a decision on the basis of those numbers,” Steer said.
Anecdotal evidence also points to recovery in blue swimmer crabs.
