Brutal discovery at Aussie beach prompts $5,222 fine warning: 'Foolish behaviour'
Australians are being urged to adopt responsible fishing practices and avoid leaving large amounts of animal remains near the water's edge following the discovery of a "chopped-up shark" on the sand at a popular east coast beach.
Posting to social media on Tuesday, a Queensland woman questioned the presence of the shark remains at a beach in Townsville in the state's northeast — prime croc country. Vision shows a large-looking shark torso, headless and without a tail.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Leonardo Guida, shark campaign manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said though the animal in question was butchered to the point it was unidentifiable, killing big sharks in the state is strictly forbidden.
"It's illegal in Queensland waters for a recreational fisher to retain a shark over 1.5 metres," he explained, adding the law is in place to protect mature and breeding individuals.
"Personally, I wouldn't target sharks for a feed as there's far more environmentally sustainable choices on offer, that are a great fishing experience.
"Secondly when you do fish, you should only take what you need. The GoodFish [website] is a great resource to understand what sustainable seafood choices there are."
Size limits exist because larger sharks are usually apex predators, crucial for controlling prey populations and ensuring a healthy marine environment. Bigger sharks are often older and more mature, contributing significantly to reproduction. Protecting them helps sustain populations.
Conversationists say that ensuring only smaller, younger sharks are taken allows populations to replenish and prevents overfishing.
But, that's not the only issue with this scenario.
In Queensland, while it is not explicitly illegal under fisheries legislation to leave fish remains on beaches, doing so is strongly discouraged due to environmental and safety concerns.
Improper disposal of fish scraps can attract predators such as crocodiles, especially in northern regions, posing significant risks to public safety. In response to such dangers, Queensland has enacted laws imposing substantial fines on individuals who discard fish scraps in areas inhabited by saltwater crocodiles.
As of September 2024, leaving scraps or animal remains in areas inhabited by saltwater crocodiles can result in an on-the-spot fine of $483. More severe penalties may apply if the action is deemed to intentionally feed or attract crocodiles, with fines reaching up to $5,222.
While Townsville isn't as densely populated with crocodiles as some areas further north, such as Cairns or Cape York, it is firmly within crocodile territory, and locals are accustomed to living with the predators.
Responding to the woman's post online, a number of locals said they thought the Townsville killing was "a crime". And while it may be, depending on the kind — some sharks species are protected, and killing them is unlawful — and the size, it appears in this case it might have just been a poor idea, Guida said.
"Irresponsibly disposing of an animal's body can result in potentially dangerous situations because of a carcasses attracting predators. Any large whole carcasses or remains should be reported to the appropriate authorities for further instruction," he told Yahoo.
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Last year, authorities issued a desperate warning against what they described as "foolish behaviour" near the water's edge in croc country. Officers with the Queensland Department of Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation (DETSI) said they'd received multiple, separate reports of crocodiles "hanging around" boat ramps waiting to be fed, after learning to expect discarded remains at popular fishing spots.
DETSI director Lindsay Delzoppo urged fishers to take their scraps with them. "Many fishers clean their catch at boat ramps and throw the heads and frames away at the water's edge, thinking they are doing the right thing by 'recycling', but this should never be done in croc country," he said.
"This foolish behaviour... needs to stop. People should dispose of fish frames and unwanted bait away from the water, because crocodiles have an amazing sense of smell and will be attracted to come along for a feed."
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