{"id":2173268,"date":"2024-02-24T12:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-24T11:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2173268"},"modified":"2024-01-22T14:53:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:53:27","slug":"jervis-bay-fresh-tragedy-as-an-entire-family-of-blue-gropers-are-slaughtered-by-spearfishermen-after-gus-the-groper-kill-saga-so-sad-and-so-angry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/jervis-bay-fresh-tragedy-as-an-entire-family-of-blue-gropers-are-slaughtered-by-spearfishermen-after-gus-the-groper-kill-saga-so-sad-and-so-angry\/","title":{"rendered":"Jervis Bay: Fresh tragedy as an entire FAMILY of blue gropers are slaughtered by spearfishermen after ‘Gus the Groper’ kill saga: ‘So sad and so angry’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A spear fisher has sparked new outrage after illegally killing a family of blue gropers, just days after fury erupted over the death of a fish feared to be Gus The Groper in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Photographs on social media have revealed NSW fisheries officers intercepting a spear fisherman with three dead gropers at Plantation Point, Jervis Bay, on the NSW south coast.<\/p>\n

The haul included a female groper, which are brown, and two juveniles. All blue gropers start off female and some can transition later in life to become a blue male.<\/p>\n

Spear fishing for blue gropers is outlawed in NSW because their friendly nature makes them an easy target, but anglers are still allowed to catch up to two a day.<\/p>\n

Woebegone Freedive posted pictures on Facebook on Tuesday of the three fish which were discovered by the fishery protection officers on Friday.<\/p>\n

‘Devastating news from Jervis Bay: A family of blue gropers, an iconic and protected species, has been illegally speared,’ said the post.<\/p>\n

\"Woebegone<\/a>
Woebegone Freedive posted pictures on Facebook on Tuesday of the three fish which were discovered by the fishery protection officers (pictured)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

‘After a fantastic beach dive with an amazing group, enjoying time with bull rays and dolphins, our joy turned to dismay as we came back to witness this horrific event.<\/p>\n

‘These friendly ‘Labradors of the sea’ are a vital part of our ecosystem and beloved by many.<\/p>\n

‘Just days after losing Gus the groper in Sydney, we’re reminded again of the urgent need for better protection and education.<\/p>\n

‘Well done to the local fisheries crew for their diligent work in searching this individual’s catch, and for the fines and gear confiscation.<\/p>\n

‘Great job in safeguarding our marine life.’<\/p>\n

The NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed the horrific haul to Daily Mail Australia.<\/p>\n

Pictures from the scene showed fisheries officers interviewing a heavily-tattooed man in wetsuit leggings, a singlet and thongs next to an SUV in the waterside car park.<\/p>\n

Spearfishing equipment can be seen on the ground in front of him. Another picture shows thre three fish laid out next to a spear gun harpoon.<\/p>\n

‘Fisheries Officers responded to a report made on the Fishers Watch Phoneline of groper being illegally speared by a spear fisherman,’ a DPI spokesman said.<\/p>\n

‘A spearfisherman was apprehended at the scene by Fisheries Officers in possession of three female groper.<\/p>\n

‘Fisheries Officers have interviewed the person of interest and seized the groper and all fishing gear.<\/p>\n

‘The matter is under investigation and appropriate compliance action will be undertaken.’<\/p>\n

The spokesman added: ‘Plantation Point is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park and is a habitat protection zone that allows spearfishing to occur.<\/p>\n

‘Groper can only legally be taken by line in NSW. For recreational fishers, this means a minimum size limit of 30cm and a bag limit of two (with only one fish over 60cm).<\/p>\n

‘Fishers and spear fishers must make themselves aware of the rules regarding their activities before they undertake any fishing or spearfishing.’<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The incident follows the tragic death of what was feared to be beloved local fish Gus the Groper at Oak Park beach at Cronulla in Sydney’s south<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Wildlife<\/a>
Wildlife documentary maker David Ireland, 76 (pictured with Gus) – who first tamed and named the beloved giant fish in the 1980s – says the fish illegally killed in Cronulla was not Gus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The incident follows the tragic death of what was feared to be beloved local fish Gus the Groper at Oak Park beach at Cronulla in Sydney’s south.<\/p>\n

Locals feared Gus had been killed when a spearfisherman was seen carrying a dead blue groper out of the water on December 30 at Oak Park Beach, where Gus lived on a nearby reef.<\/p>\n

The fisherman, believed to be a New Zealander, was later fined $500 by police, and a further $300 by the NSW Department of Primary Industries on Friday, for spearing the protected species.<\/p>\n

The incident took a twist on Tuesday when wildlife documentary maker David Ireland, 76 – who first tamed and named the beloved giant fish in the 1980s – said the fish illegally killed in Cronulla was not Gus.<\/p>\n

He said Gus was much larger than the fish pictured with the spear fisherman, and also had a tell-tale scar near his tail where he was previously speared years earlier but had survived.<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> by Kevin Airs was first published by The Daily Mail on 9 January 2024. Lead Image:\u00a0A spear fisher has sparked new outrage after illegally killing a family of blue gropers (pictured), just days after fury erupted over the death of a fish feared to be Gus The Groper in Sydney.<\/em><\/p>\n

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