澳大利亚南部Point Lowly沿岸拥有世界上唯一的大规模巨型澳洲墨鱼聚集地。[1]该地区通常在冬季沿8公里浅礁带吸引逾10万只墨鱼前来交配。[1]然而，2026年5月至6月期间，潜水员报告的目击数量跌至前所未有的低点，不足10只，远低于历年平均的百只或更多。[1]
研究人员指出，这一数量崩溃可能与南澳州海藻大规模繁殖有关，该繁殖由Karenia cristata微藻物种主导。[1]海藻泛滥可能直接影响墨鱼种群，或通过减少其食物来源间接造成影响。[1]虽然2013年曾出现过历史低点，当时仍有数千只墨鱼聚集，但今年的下降程度前所未有。[1]
为应对这一危机，州政府实施了90天旅游禁令以保护剩余墨鱼。[1]同时，Invertebrates Australia正召集研究人员、专家和旅游运营商组成工作组，评估该种群的保护状态。[1]
Point Lowly in South Australia typically hosts the world's only mass gathering of giant cuttlefish, with over 100,000 individuals congregating along an 8-kilometer shallow reef during winter to breed [1]. However, the 2026 season has brought an alarming shift: divers reported spotting fewer than 10 cuttlefish during May and June, a stark contrast to the historical average of 100 or more animals per dive [1]. While cuttlefish populations have experienced declines before—notably in 2013 when numbers fell to historic lows yet still reached thousands—researchers describe this year's collapse as unprecedented [1].
Scientists are investigating potential causes for the dramatic population crash. The leading hypothesis centers on a massive algal bloom dominated by the microalgae species Karenia cristata, which may directly harm the cuttlefish or deplete their food sources [1]. In response to the crisis, the South Australian government has implemented a 90-day tourism ban to protect the remaining animals [1]. Meanwhile, Invertebrates Australia has convened a working group comprising researchers, experts, and tourism operators to assess the population's conservation status [1].
