Australia usually hosts the world's biggest cuttlefish mating event - not this year

Every winter, the South Australian coast, known as the Cuttlefish Coast, hosts the world's largest mating event for giant cuttlefish. However, this year's turnout was alarmingly low, sparking concerns over a possible catastrophic decline of the species. Official figures reveal a drastic drop from 63,000 in the previous year to just 1,811 cuttlefish this year, a staggering 97% decrease.

The state government attributes this decline to a toxic algal bloom affecting the coastline for over 18 months. Despite the low egg count of 440, experts emphasize the critical importance of each breeding season for the species' future. Manny Katz, director of Eyrelab, a conservation not-for-profit, spent hours observing the event, noting the alarming scarcity of cuttlefish.

The algal bloom, exacerbated by climate change, has wreaked havoc on marine habitats, raising concerns about the species' long-term survival. Conservationists are pushing for the giant Australian cuttlefish to be listed as endangered, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect this vulnerable species.