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.

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.

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.

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

“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.”

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

“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.”