A man has been fined $500 for spearing a protected fish species in Sydney over the weekend.<\/p>\n
NSW police have confirmed officers spoke to a 26-year-old man on Saturday following reports a blue groper (Achoerodus viridis) was speared and killed at Oak Park in Cronulla.<\/p>\n
Police said the fish was not found but was \u201cbelieved to have been returned to the water\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to local reports, the community believes the fish may be \u201cGus\u201d, a 35- to 40-year-old blue groper who is well-known to swimmers and divers in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing inquiries, the man was issued a penalty notice for take groper not use rod and line or handline which carries a penalty of $500,\u201d police said in a statement.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said it was investigating after it received a photograph and information regarding the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlue gropers are the official state fish and we are disappointed to hear one may have been illegally speared in Cronulla,\u201d a DPI spokesperson said. \u201cGroper are protected from commercial fishing and spearfishing.\u201d<\/p>\n
People can catch a maximum of two gropers a day by line only. They must be bigger than 30cm and only one can be over 60cm. Maximum penalties for illegal fishing include a $22,000 fine or six months in jail.<\/p>\n
The NSW agriculture and fisheries minister, Tara Moriarty, said on Monday the groper\u2019s death had been disappointing for locals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terribly disappointing for the local community of Cronulla\u2019s Oak Park Beach who have publicly and privately shared their sadness at the loss of \u2018Gus\u2019 due to illegal spearfishing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Blue gropers are known for being peaceful, friendly and inquisitive. They can grow to 1.2 metres long and stand out with their bright blue colouring.<\/p>\n