Outrage after 'despicable' act on beloved stingray: 'Hacked to pieces'
Two 'friendly' bull rays were well known to locals visiting Chowder Bay in Sydney's Mosman area. But they were recently discovered dead by a diver.
A "destructive" and seemingly deliberate attack on two beloved stingrays has caused outrage across a Sydney community with locals condemning the act allegedly carried out by "ignorant" fishermen.
One man James Weaire, an avid diver and resident living near Chowder Bay in Sydney Harbour, told Yahoo News Australia he discovered the "butchered" animals during a night dive on Saturday. He said they appeared to be "hacked to pieces", likely "harvested for their wings" before the "carcasses were thrown back into the water".
"I regularly dive in the area, I have a lot of friends that do as well. We regularly see these rays, they're quite friendly," he said.
"One of them [the two killed] was named Stumpy, he was known by the local dive community to just pop up and swim very close to you. They're basically a feature of the dive site".
Weaire said it was "heartbreaking" to see the beloved marine animal, a bull ray — a stingray species — in the state it was in. It's understood that on a global scale bull rays are a critically endangered species.
"We didn't see the killing of the rays themselves but in the photos you can see clear knife marks where they've been cut to pieces," he said referencing images shared with Yahoo News. He said there doesn't appear to be any signs of a "humane killing".
"So it looks like they were killed while they were alive," he claimed.
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The news sent shockwaves through the Mosman community with locals "devastated" by the tragic turn of events. Weaire said that area is really "magical" and that "it's this really beautiful, huge dive site in the area to protect."
"That’s so sad, what a pointless act. They are just living their life," said someone on Facebook after learning of the news. "There should be consequences for this destruction."
"Despicable behaviour, do these people have feelings for others? or just plainly ignorant," another hit out.
"I am in tears and so angry, this is beyond sad," said another, drawing comparisons to the "beautiful groper" that was previously killed in Sydney's south by "some useless grub with a spear who posed for photographs with his kill".
The alleged killing prompted calls from many to "ban fishing" in the area in a bid to protect the aquatic environment. But when asked by Yahoo if this was on the cards, Mosman Council simply said, "fishing regulation and compliance is a matter for the NSW Department of Primary Industries."
"Sometimes the killing of these animals can be a catalyst to changing laws," Dr Kate Ahmad, an avid diver and marine enthusiast told Yahoo, noting a case in WA whereby a stingray was killed, resulting in the species being protected by state law.
"Perhaps this is something NSW needs to consider."
"The killing of any large charismatic marine species, especially those who are known and named, is always distressing," she continued. "Some of these animals are particularly vulnerable due to their placid nature and curiosity around humans. Smooth stingrays in particular will often be comfortable swimming alongside divers."
Investigation underway after reports of stingray deaths
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) confirmed an investigation is now underway after a "report [was] made by a diver of a bull ray killed at Chowder Bay, Clifton Gardens".
"DPI advises that the community is discouraged from directly targeting, disturbing or interacting with rays adjacent to boat ramps and fish cleaning facilities, as they are often socially important to the local community," they said.
"Recreational fishers are allowed to catch them in areas not protected by a closure or by Marine Protected Area rules, using approved methods and gear under the Fisheries Management Act".
There is a combined limit of 5 rays/sharks (with additional rules for various sharks) in NSW.
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