Key Takeaways
- A man was caught with an illegally speared eastern blue groper at Terrigal Haven on the NSW Central Coast
- The incident has sparked outrage among locals, with some calling for a ban on spearfishing at the popular coastal spot
- Longtime participants in the sport have slammed the man’s act, arguing that one person’s bad behaviour does not represent an entire group
- Eastern Blue Groper have been protected from spearfishing in NSW since 1969 and from all other methods since March 2024
- Anyone caught breaking the rules faces a $500 on-the-spot fine and/or a maximum court-imposed fine of $22,000 and six months in prison for a first offence
Introduction to the Incident
An Aussie community is furious after a man emerged from the ocean with an illegally speared eastern blue groper on Sunday in front of a horrified crowd. Witnesses reportedly confronted the visitor after he pulled the distinct and protected large fish from the water at Terrigal Haven, on the NSW Central Coast. A photo posted on a local Facebook page has since spread like wildfire and ignited outrage among locals, some of whom have called for spearfishing to be banned entirely at the popular coastal spot.
Reaction from the Community
The incident has sparked a heated debate among locals, with some calling for a ban on spearfishing at Terrigal Haven. A person who witnessed the incident and posted a photo online deemed the decision to ban spearfishing a "no-brainer", citing the danger posed by loaded spearguns in areas where people, especially children, are swimming. However, longtime participants in the sport have also slammed the man’s act, arguing that one person’s bad behaviour does not represent an entire group.
Investigation and Consequences
An investigation into the spear fisherman’s illegal act is underway, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) confirmed. Fisheries officers interviewed the man at the scene and seized the blue groper, as well as all of his fishing gear. Afterwards, he voluntarily reported the incident to the police, the spokesperson explained. The matter is still under investigation, and appropriate compliance action will be undertaken. Anyone caught breaking the rules faces a $500 on-the-spot fine and/or a maximum court-imposed fine of $22,000 and six months in prison for a first offence.
Protection of Eastern Blue Groper
Eastern Blue Groper have been protected from spearfishing in NSW since 1969 and from all other methods, including line fishing, since March 2024. The ban was introduced following a series of incidents and has been extended for another three years to "enable further research and monitoring of the species". The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has urged fishers and spearfishers to make themselves aware of the rules regarding their activities before they undertake any fishing or spearfishing. Information is available through the FishSmart App or DPIRD Fisheries website.
Analysis of the Incident
Speaking to Yahoo, Malcolm Poole, Safety Project Officer for the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW, likened the incident to the spearing and killing of a blue groper in the Cronulla region early last year. The 26-year-old man was slapped with an $800 fine for that act, a punishment that people called "pathetic". Malcolm noted that the fisherman in the recent incident appeared to be very inexperienced, citing the lack of a weight belt, the use of a surfing wetsuit, and the absence of a float and a flag to indicate the presence of a diver.
Response from the Spearfishing Community
Greg Sansom, a member of the Central Coast Sealions Spearfishing Club, agreed that the fisher’s appearance and behaviour indicate "a lack of understanding of basic spearfishing etiquette, safety, and conservation responsibilities". The club supports an appropriate penalty for the offence and hopes it reinforces the importance of knowing and following NSW fishing regulations before entering the water with a speargun. However, the club strongly rejects calls to use this isolated incident as justification for banning spearfishing at Terrigal Haven, arguing that one individual’s unlawful actions should not be used to unfairly vilify the many responsible, conservation-minded spearfishers who follow the rules and respect the marine environment.