'Very low': Outrage after 15 mutilated sharks discovered on rocks
WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Fifteen__ __dead sharks have been found mutilated and lined up along a rock wall at Fingal Head on the NSW Far North Coast.
An investigation has been launched after the grisly display was found by a local resident walking by the river on Friday.
Laeila Gardener posted the photos of the 15 dead sharks, believed to be sliteye sharks, to Facebook group Kingscliff Happenings. She said she was "livid".
She said sharks are important for the ecosystem and that the "horrible act of shark culling" needs to be stopped.
"Get the word out, start teaching why these sharks need to stick around. This makes me sad and I'm sure a lot of people who are educated about sharks' importance," she wrote.
A NSW Department of Primary Industries spokeswoman said a full investigation will be carried out to determine whether an offence has taken place, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.
The bag limit for sharks like these is five per fisherman, with anyone found exceeding the limits facing fines of up to $88,000 and a possible 18 months in jail.
Ms Gardener said it was the smell that led her to the gruesome discovery.
"It smelt so bad and I can only guess they were caught and killed very early that morning or very late last night," she said.
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Tweed MP Geoff Provest said judging by the way sharks were cut he believes someone caught them for food consumption and that regardless if the incident was found to be illegal, it is "frowned upon" by locals.
Mr Gardner said the way the sharks are displayed is "really sad" and that the person who went to such lengths was "proud of killing sharks like this".
Many people felt the same way, labelling the incident "shocking" and "sad".
"This is heart breaking, we are not superior to any other living being on this planet," one person wrote.
"No words for the cruelty," another person said.
"When will people realise how important sharks are to our eco system? The ocean needs sharks we need the ocean. Stop screwing up the planet," another person commented.
