Stingray mutilation shock

A Hillman woman has expressed her dismay after she saw a fisherman mutilate a stingray on the Mangles Bay beach shoreline and throw its dead body in the water, as children snorkelled in the area.

Jennifer Rainnie said she saw the man rapidly approach the shoreline from a nearby yacht while she enjoyed an afternoon at the beach with her husband and dog two weeks ago.

‘‘We usually grab takeaway and go down to the beach to let our dog play in the water—we just sit there and enjoy the view,’’ she said.

‘‘He jumped out of the boat and slapped a beautiful stingray down on the beach, he then leaned in the boat and grabbed a knife and started hacking its wings off for all to see — I was gobsmacked.’’

Mrs Rainnie said after the man had cut off the stingray’s wings, he flung its limp body into the shallows.

‘‘It was that close that my little dog kept finding it and I was worried about the barb because I believe they are still poisonous after they are dead,’’ she said. ‘‘Someone’s dog or an adult or child could have been hurt.

‘‘That sort of thing is not acceptable in our waters, I don’t think.’’

Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said it was not illegal to fish stingrays but recreational fishermen should dispose of fish waste appropriately.

‘‘Stingrays are not protected but they are charismatic and are something of aesthetic value to the community,’’ he said.

‘‘People need to exercise a bit of discretion and responsibility when fishing.

‘‘We encourage local recreational fisherman to respect the community’s values system.’’