Fifteen Eastern Blue Gropers Found With Horrific Spear Wounds At Wattamolla In Royal National Park

Chris 55 · October 26, 2009

If the utube video of a group dumping undersize fish wasn't enough

By Gemma Jones, Political Reporter

THEY are majestic swimmers and friendly, making blue gropers a favourite among Sydney snorkellers.

However that same lack of fear has led to the death of 15 of the fish in what authorities have described as one of the worst alleged fishing crimes they have encountered.

Fisheries officers were appalled to find the 15 eastern blue gropers, which are partly protected in NSW, when they searched a 39-year-old Lansvale man's bag at Wattamolla in the Royal National Park last week.

Photographs of the dead fish, ranging from 35cm to 65cm long, were taken as evidence and the images show horrific spear injuries.

The eastern blue groper is the state's emblem fish and the species has been protected since 1969.

It is illegal to use a spear to catch them and they can only be caught by rod. There is a limit of two per person.

The man faces up to three months in jail or an $11,000 fine for illegally possessing fish and the same penalty for exceeding a limit if found guilty.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the mass slaughter of the fish was horrifying.

"This is perhaps one of the most deplorable fisheries crimes I have ever seen and offenders can expect to face the full force of the law," Mr Macdonald said yesterday.

"This should serve as a warning that spearing blue groper is highly illegal."

The fish became popular with Sydneysiders when "Bluey the groper" interacted with snorkellers off Clovelly beach, becoming a popular tourist attraction until his presumed death several years ago.

The incident comes just days after The Daily Telegraph revealed a group of fishermen had videoed themselves throwing back dead and dying undersized fish and posted images online.

A spokesman for Mr Macdonald said NSW Fisheries Officers were attempting to find the men.