Coogee marine protection has returned to local attention after a spearfisher legally took a large cuttlefish near Ross Jones Memorial Pool, renewing calls to extend conservation measures along more of the coastline.
Catch Occurred Beyond Existing Reserve
Swimmers saw the cuttlefish with the spearfisher at about 9:45am on Thursday, 30 July, as he sat on the edge of Ross Jones Memorial Pool, at the southern end of Coogee Beach. Coogee lifeguards were alerted, and locals indicated they would contact Randwick Council.
The catch occurred outside the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve, where spearfishing restrictions apply. The 40-hectare reserve extends from the northern end of Clovelly to the southern end of Gordons Bay and ends by the rock baths at northern Coogee.
Spearfishing is permitted at the location where the cuttlefish was taken. Within the existing reserve, the ban on spearfishing protects the eastern blue groper and other marine life along the rocky shoreline.
Coogee Marine Protection Calls Renewed
The timing of the catch also drew concern because it occurred during peak breeding season for cuttlefish. Marine biologist Dr Alexandra Schnell warned that removing a mature adult during this period could affect the next generation, with cuttlefish reproducing only once during their lifetime.
Schnell has called for conservation areas to be expanded along the Sydney coastline, particularly during breeding seasons. She has also raised the possibility of smaller protected areas based on the travel paths of particular species.
Cuttlefish are regularly photographed by swimmers and divers around Coogee. The invertebrates can grow up to 40 centimetres in length and weigh more than five kilograms.
Earlier Petition Sought Wider Protection
The latest incident follows an earlier community push for broader protection around Coogee. A petition seeking a conservation area spanning the full Coogee coastline attracted more than 1,000 signatures within days of its launch.
The proposed area would also include waters around Wedding Cake Island, about one kilometre off Coogee Beach.
The campaign for wider protection was already under way before the latest catch. The existing Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve continues to prohibit spearfishing within its boundaries, while the southern Coogee location where the cuttlefish was taken remains outside that protected zone.
Randwick Council is investigating the incident. The Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve is managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Published 5-August-2026
