Latest news with #MaryRiver
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Major problem behind seemingly-innocent photo of Aussie fisherman: 'Irresponsible'
At first glance, it's difficult to spot what's wrong with this photo. A man stands with his back to the camera, fishing in the shallows of a river. While it sounds innocent enough, the sight was enough to leave onlookers in disbelief. That's because the photo was taken at Shady Camp in the Northern Territory, part of the Mary River system which boasts the highest density of saltwater crocodiles in the world. 'I was absolutely dumbfounded,' witness Dave Jennings told Yahoo News. 'We first pulled up at the freshwater boat ramp, less than 100 metres away and watch a very big tail swim away.' Shortly after he spotted the man fishing from the barrage. He also watched on as a woman entered the shallows to retrieve lost lures. While most NT rivers average five crocodiles per kilometre, the Mary River is home to around 11 saltwater crocodiles per kilometre, with up to 15 per kilometre at Shady Camp. Fishing from the barrage is 'very dangerous and not recommended', the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory states, and swimming is not allowed anywhere in the Mary River National Park. Dave said there are warning signs in the area and a crocodile viewing platform that's 'there for a reason'. 'They would have to know [about the crocs] unless they live in a complete bubble,' he said. He added he was unable to approach them, as he recently snapped his achilles and is currently in a moon boot. Huge crocodiles have been known to feed on the barrage, right where the man was standing. Dave fears an attack would not only be devastating for the victim and their family, but it could also lead to dire consequences, like a culling or a shut down of the area. Croc expert Damian 'Wildman' Duffy told Yahoo the behaviour is "incredibly irresponsible". "They can't say they didn't know. There are signs everywhere and it's well known that the Mary River, especially Shady Camp, has a very healthy population of saltwater crocodiles," he said. "Croc attacks are rare, and fatalities even rarer (one to two a year), however due to poor human behaviour and complacency, attacks and fatalities are inevitable." Duffy added that people are seen flouting the rules too frequently, and believes more public education is needed. "Crocodiles should not be killed or even removed from the wild in these instances. Removing crocodiles from the wild does nothing to increase public safety," he said. In September, Duffy spotted another fisherman wading in the waters at Shady Camp but his concerns fell on deaf ears after approaching the man. He said he confronted the man nicely about the dangers of being near the edge of the water, but was dismissed. 'If one of these animals attempts to have a go at you, you're going to get killed in front of your missus and kid. And he was like, 'yeah mate, righto, righto'. 'You can't fix stupid.' In another shocking example, charter fisherman Jeff Roscoe previously told Yahoo News he regularly sees people putting themselves and their children in danger. 'There's a crocodile viewing platform there, there's massive big signs but yet people still do it,' he said. 'We'll pull up at the Shady Camp boat ramp and there'll be people standing in the water up to their knees with their kids, every day. Every day. 'I've been abused… people just don't really care. They just think it's not going to happen to them. And it will. Eventually it will.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fisherman's wild act at Aussie river leaves witnesses stunned: 'Absolutely dumbfounded'
At first glance, it's difficult to spot what's wrong with this photo. A man stands with his back to the camera, fishing in the shallows of a river. While it sounds innocent enough, the sight was enough to leave onlookers in disbelief. That's because the photo was taken at Shady Camp in the Northern Territory, part of the Mary River system which boasts the highest density of saltwater crocodiles in the world. 'I was absolutely dumbfounded,' witness Dave Jennings told Yahoo News. 'We first pulled up at the freshwater boat ramp, less than 100 metres away and watch a very big tail swim away.' Shortly after he spotted the man fishing from the barrage. He also watched on as a woman entered the shallows to retrieve lost lures. While most NT rivers average five crocodiles per kilometre, the Mary River is home to around 11 saltwater crocodiles per kilometre, with up to 15 per kilometre at Shady Camp. Fishing from the barrage is 'very dangerous and not recommended', the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory states, and swimming is not allowed anywhere in the Mary River National Park. Dave said there are warning signs in the area and a crocodile viewing platform that's 'there for a reason'. 'They would have to know [about the crocs] unless they live in a complete bubble,' he said. He added he was unable to approach them, as he recently snapped his achilles and is currently in a moon boot. Huge crocodiles have been known to feed on the barrage, right where the man was standing. Dave fears an attack would not only be devastating for the victim and their family, but it could also lead to dire consequences, like a culling or a shut down of the area. Unfortunately, Dave isn't the first to spot the risky activity down at Shady Camp. Charter fisherman Jeff Roscoe previously told Yahoo News he regularly sees people putting themselves and their children in danger. 'There's a crocodile viewing platform there, there's massive big signs but yet people still do it,' he said. 'We'll pull up at the Shady Camp boat ramp and there'll be people standing in the water up to their knees with their kids, every day. Every day. 'I've been abused… people just don't really care. They just think it's not going to happen to them. And it will. Eventually it will.' In September, nature expert and tour guide Damian 'Wildman' Duffy spotted another fisherman wading in the waters at Shady Camp. 'There's a fella down there with his missus and kid, and not only is he standing right on the water's edge, every now and then he's walking into the water," he said. 'If your feet are in the water, and one of them has a go at you, you're going to die!' He said he confronted the man nicely about the dangers of being near the edge of the water, but was dismissed. 'If one of these animals attempts to have a go at you, you're going to get killed in front of your missus and kid. And he was like, 'yeah mate, righto, righto'. 'You can't fix stupid.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Mary River cod turns the tables on one of its biggest threats by eating them
A critically-endangered fish could be turning the tables on one of its biggest threats by eating them. In the Mary River, stretching 291 kilometres from the Sunshine Coast to the Great Sandy Strait, the invasive pest species tilapia have been an ongoing problem. They compete for food and habitat, as well as eating the eggs and juveniles of the river's endangered species such as the "bum-breathing" Mary River turtle, Australian lungfish, the white-throated snapping turtle, and the Mary River cod. During a routine survey last month by Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) conservationists tilapia remains were found in the mouths of two Mary River cod. Its chief executive Tom Espinoza said they were not surprised by the finding, even documenting a cod eating a tilapia, but were excited to finally have evidence of the predation. "There was always the hope and suspicion that they [cod] were eating everything," Mr Espinoza said. "One of the cod that had the tilapia in its mouth would have been about 80cm long, and the tilapia was close to 40cm long, so they can eat a fish almost half their size — which is great. "It's provided a lot of hope for people that are invested in healthy cod populations across the board." While the Mary River cod is considered an apex predator in the river system, it now occurs in less than 30 per cent of their former known range. Griffith University's Professor Mark Kennard, who works with the National Environmental Science Program, said the cod would eat a lot of different types of large animals. "We've collected cod that have regurgitated possums and lizards so they are a large, top-level predator in freshwater systems," Professor Kennard said. He said researchers believed tilapia would be a food source for the cod. "But there hasn't been much documented evidence of our large-body native species actually eating non-native fish like tilapia," Professor Kennard said. Environmental groups, researchers and traditional owners have been co-ordinating conservation efforts along the Mary River for decades. Professor Kennard said tilapia had increased in abundance in the Mary River, especially since the last big flood in 2022. Tilapia are so successful as an invasive fish that eradication is not considered possible with the species found in 26 of Queensland's 67 catchments. "Part of the solution is things like enhancing benefits for native species," Professor Kennard said. Professor Kennard was part of an extensive mapping of the unique river system, which runs south to north. It has led to innovative conservation ideas such as cod logs and tilapia fertiliser. "There's still a lot of work to do. The threatened species have not come back as much as we would like," he said. "They're still rare and restricted in certain parts of the catchment despite 30 years of on-ground work doing restocking of fish, that kind of thing. "So I think we do need to be making a concerted effort now and in the coming years." Mr Espinoza said the finding would "increase our resolve" to put in place short and long-term solutions for managing invasive species in the delicate system. "Hopefully in 10, 15, 20 years' time we've got a population of large cod that can do the rest of the job themselves," he said. "It's a real natural, sustainable solution."
