Overview
- From November 1, commercial marine scalefish and blue crab fishing will be suspended in the Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island zone through June 30, 2026, subject to ongoing scientific review.
- Recreational bag and boat limits will be cut by 50% for all species in Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island; in Spencer Gulf, 50% cuts apply to calamari, garfish, blue swimmer crab and King George whiting as authorities seek to prevent effort shifting north.
- Rapid assessments identified steep declines in calamari, garfish, King George whiting and blue swimmer crab in Gulf St Vincent, localised high abalone mortality, and no evidence of impact on prawn catches.
- SARDI reports the bloom trending in the right direction overall, though increased concentrations are recorded at multiple metropolitan Adelaide sites and conditions vary by location.
- The government announced support measures including free boat-ramp launches and coastal park access, half-price trailer‑boat registrations for 12 months from December 1, $3m for threatened species, $4m for saltwater restocking, and funding for a licence‑surrender study and industry recovery framework.