Controversial net blamed for turtle, dugong, sawfish deaths on Barrier Reef

Controversial net blamed for turtle, dugong, sawfish deaths on Barrier Reef

WARNING: Images beneath might disturb some readers

Calls are mounting for a controversial fishing methodology to be banned as threatened species proceed to clean up lifeless – typically with fins lacking – on a small stretch of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has logged dozens of photographs from locals exhibiting lifeless endangered inexperienced turtles, slender sawfish and dugongs.

The photographs have been taken over the previous 12 years and the entire animals washed up on Wunjunga Beach, a 10-kilometre stretch of sand on the mouth of the Burdekin River. 

It’s believed lots of the animals have been killed by gillnets, a vertical internet that hangs from a line.

This photo, taken in February, shows a turtle missing three flippers and its head.
This picture, taken in February, exhibits a turtle lacking three flippers and its head. (AMCS)

Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) explains they’re used to focus on species similar to gummy sharks, noticed sharks and elephant fish.

However, typically different animals are caught as bycatch.

One picture taken in February exhibits a sea turtle lacking three of its flippers – and a head.

Another exhibits a lifeless dugong calf, one among 4 marine mammals believed killed by nets.

A dead dugong calf washed ashore February 2019.
A lifeless dugong calf washed ashore February 2019. (AMCS)

The dugong deaths come regardless of the very fact the world round Upstart Bay is a dugong safety space, supposed to supply safety from gillnets.

Another confronting picture exhibits at the least 12 sawfish caught and allegedly lifeless in a single gillnet.

The conservation group mentioned fishers claimed there have been solely 10 sawfish killed on common in gillnets on the east coast between 2017 and 2021.

The reason for loss of life will be laborious to find out in some circumstances, nonetheless the conservationists mentioned locals reported gillnet fishing came about “immediately before” the carcasses washed up.

At least 13 sawfish all allegedly dead in a gillnet washed ashore October 2018.
At least 13 sawfish all allegedly lifeless in a gillnet washed ashore October 2018. (AMCS)

Gillnets are “indiscriminate killers”, Great Barrier Reef marketing campaign supervisor Simon Miller mentioned.

“This catalogue of shocking images shows the scale of devastation that gillnets cause within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

“They can seize and drown iconic threatened species similar to dugongs in minutes.

“Fishing practices on our Reef must be gold standard, but these photos show the reality is far from it.”

Miller has known as on the Queensland authorities to ban the nets within the Great Barrier Reef.

“These are just the impacts of gillnet fishing that have been observed by concerned locals along one small stretch of our Reef coast; you can imagine the carnage that takes place out of sight throughout the entire Reef,” the marine conservationist mentioned.

“The Queensland Government cannot keep turning a blind eye to these deaths.”

A dead turtle is seen with its head and flippers missing.
Another lifeless turtle is seen with its head and flippers lacking. This one washed ashore February 2021. (AMCS)
This echoes a suggestion from the World Heritage Committee’s scientific advisers, UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature in final yr’s Reactive Monitoring Mission report.
The DAF advised 9news.com.au they’re “considering” a response to the report.

“The Queensland Government is currently considering its response to the UNESCO Report on the Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Great Barrier Reef,” a spokesperson mentioned.

DAF mentioned the nets can solely be used with a business fishing licence “under prescribed conditions”.

“There are limits on the size of nets that can be used depending on what licence a commercial fisher holds, the area they want to fish and the species they want to target,” the spokesperson added.

“Since 2011, the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) has received two complaints about animals being entangled resulting from commercial fishing in the Wunjunga Beach area.

“QBFP has not obtained any complaints about fishers dumping corpses overboard within the Wunjunga Beach space.”

“The 24-hour toll free Fishwatch hotline was created in 1997 in order that members of the general public can report suspected illegal fishing actions on to the QBFP.”

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Source: www.9news.com.au