Outrage at sea-life butchering

Sick trophy hunters are torturing live animals and leaving their butchered bodies near popular swimming spots in an horrific pattern of animal cruelty that has left locals disgusted.

A 2.8m long female tiger shark, pictured, was found beheaded and without its tail close to the Long Point Jetty in Port Kennedy on January 9. It is believed the shark was killed on the beach, its remains left to rot on the sand.

Just days later a stingray was found still alive, but missing its barb and flesh from its wings.

Rockingham councillor Matthew Whitfield, who helped to remove the tiger shark carcass from the beach, said he was “angry and disgusted” that people could catch a shark then “take away the jaws and tails as a trophy”.

“It not only disgusts me that people kill an animal for its jaws as a trophy, even worse though to leave the carcass on a popular beach for kids to see and potentially to attract other predators is disgusting,” he said.

Mr Whitfield said he had since received seven different reports from the community regarding incidents of a similar nature.

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development aquatic resource director Nathan Harrison said there had been three official reports to Fishwatch from the local area this summer.

He said it was important all recreational fishers treated fish stocks with a “sense of personal responsibility” and encouraged the fishing community to dispose of fish waste correctly.

“Fishers are encouraged to dispatch humanely any fish being retained and to dispose of all fish waste, including bait, responsibly to ensure beach areas are kept clean and avoid attracting larger marine predators such as sharks, seals and dolphins,” Mr Harrison said.

“Take away all your rubbish with you or put it in a nearby bin, littering is not acceptable anywhere.”

He said all incidents reported to FishWatch were investigated further, and urged the community to report anything of concern to the official line on 1800 815 507.

Rockingham mayor Barry Sammels said the City was aware of both incidents. He said anyone who finds a marine animal washed ashore which needs rescue, or the carcass of a dead marine animal, could report it directly to the City on 9528 0333.

“City officers will attend and assess the situation, inform the relevant authorities and take the required action,” he said.