Pale Octopus Catches Plummet in South Australia

0:00South Australia's lone commercial pale octopus fisher, Leon Ben Weinen, is facing a total wipeout on his catches. For 14 years, he's pulled in about 350 kilograms per trip from the lower Spencer Gulf. But over the past year, even with 20,000 out of the state's 24,000 traps, he's lucky to snag a handful. He points the finger at a harmful algal bloom and its toxins hitting the area early. The bloom officially showed up in Spencer Gulf on May 31, 2025, after killing fish and cuddlefish nearby. But Van Weinen spotted the drop back in January, February, and March. Scientists at the SA Research and Development Institute are convinced it's just the bloom. They say it could be water temperatures, habitat shifts, or food shortages playing a bigger role. Cephalopods like squid and cuddlefish took hits elsewhere, but the pale octopus decline might be local or shifting stocks. The financial hit is brutal. Over $150,000 loss since March 2025, making trips unviable.

1:03Now he's switched to the smaller octopus barima from Coffin Bay to Venus Bay and buyers are biting. While sales on the new catch stay strong, the pale octopus mystery lingers with no quick fix in sight, leaving everyone watching the Gulf's ecosystem. Closely, this has been Sydney News Today, powered by AI.