- A fish was torn from a rock wall
- The latest incident after blue groper ‘Gus’ was stabbed
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Angry locals have erupted after three men allegedly speared an ‘iconic’ Mechano fish to death, calling on the group to hand themselves over.
Fishermen reportedly harpooned the fish from a rock wall at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island off the coast of southeast Queensland on Tuesday afternoon.
Photos captured by an onlooker showed the reef-dwelling fish floating in the sea alongside a fisherman wearing a wetsuit and snorkel.
Dr Daryl McPhee, a fisheries expert and associate professor at Bond University, said the death of the “iconic” palmer had outraged locals who fished in the area.
“These creatures are the Bambi of the sea,” said Dr. McPhee.
“Every true spearfisherman knows that spearfishing a marauder is illegal and poses no challenge.”
Angry locals erupted in outrage over three men who allegedly killed a Queensland groper (pictured) on Tuesday.
The incident allegedly took place in a section of water where spearfishing is understood to be permitted.
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries officials were informed.
Dr McPhee said the suspected fishermen should do the right thing and confront the authorities.
“They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and, if found guilty, given a sentence commensurate with the community’s outrage,” he said.
‘It is necessary to pay special attention to the education of spearfishers. They need to know the law and know what a fish is before they jump in the water and kill something.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the department for comment.
The latest incident comes after a fisherman sparked community outrage when he speared another large fish in the Oak Park rock pool at Cronulla, in Sydney’s south, in December last year.
The large fish was seen motionless in the water (pictured) in heartbreaking scenes after the animal was allegedly harpooned.
Dr Daryl McPhee (pictured) said the alleged fishermen should face the full weight of the law for their actions.
Angry locals who feared it was the beloved blue medo known as ‘Gus’ criticized the fisherman for killing him after he emerged from the water carrying the sea creature.
The man was fined a combined $800 for illegally killing the fish.
Queensland pissers are listed as a protected species after being fished commercially for decades and remain frequent targets of spearfishers.
The animals, which can grow up to three meters long and live about 50 years, must be released if they have been captured.
People who touch someone face fines of up to $11,000 and can be imprisoned for up to three months.