A protected eastern blue groper has been killed by a spear fisher on the New South Wales Central Coast, prompting calls for better public awareness about marine life at the popular tourist spot.
Steve Farthing was walking at the Haven in Terrigal on Sunday when he said he saw the large fish being dragged up the boat ramp by a man.
Mr Farthing said other people also witnessed the incident and approached the spear fisher, “telling him what he’d done wrong”.
“He looked quite proud coming out with the fish and didn’t realise what he’d done,” he said.
Anyone who kills the protected species can face fines or jail time. (Supplied: Steve Farthing)
Mr Farthing took photos of the fish on the boat ramp.
He said the man then “appeared to panic and went and dumped the fish in the car park and took off down the boardwalk”.
“He looked quite shocked by it all,” Mr Farthing said.
Eastern blue groper, considered a near-threatened species, has been protected from spearfishing in New South Wales for more than half a century.
A statewide ban on all other forms of fishing of the iconic species was introduced in early 2024 after several were killed in Sydney.
That ban was extended in March for another three years.
Groper death under investigation
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) was alerted and the man later returned to talk to Fisheries officers.
In a statement, the DPIRD said the circumstances surrounding the groper’s death were still being investigated.
A spokesperson said officers seized the dead fish as well as the man’s fishing gear.
Spear fishing gear left at Terrigal Haven after the groper’s death. (Supplied: Steve Farthing)
The latest groper death has prompted fresh calls for better signage at Terrigal Haven to help educate fishers and the public about the Haven’s sea life.
Better public awareness
Ocean swimmer Ray Moore raised the concept with Central Coast Council two years ago and said “blue groper to grey nurse sharks and everything in between” lived in the inlet beside Terrigal Beach.
Ray Moore is behind a campaign for special signage to highlight the Haven’s marine life. (Supplied)
“While they are not all protected, they’re amazing fish and we’d like the public to know they exist,” Mr Moore said.
“We’re really just trying to get some signage up so people are aware, and then there wouldn’t be these accidents that happened on Sunday.”
Anyone caught taking eastern blue groper faces significant fines or possible jail time.
Terrigal Haven has long been a tourist hotspot for families during summer. (Supplied: Ray Moore)
Mr Moore stressed his proposed signage was not about banning any particular sport or activity, but admitted having the area recognised as an aquatic reserve would be the ultimate “dream”.
He said people needed to pay better attention to protected species.
“I think that would help protect our lovely fish we all love and swim with constantly.”