It will be illegal to fish for the iconic bluefish in New South Wales after a series of illegal killings sparked national outrage.
New rules to be announced on Wednesday will protect NSW state fish from fishing by any method, including line fishing.
Previously, laws only protected clappers (including brown, red and blue fish species) from spearfishing and commercial fishing, and allowed catching two per day.
Blue piss deaths caused massive anger and controversy earlier this year after a spear fisherman illegally killed a blue piss, affectionately known to locals as Gus, in Oak Park, Cronulla, in January.
A new law protecting NSW’s state fish, the groper, will be introduced from all forms of fishing and could be introduced after a 12-month trial (pictured, Gus the groper).
An online petition launched by the Animal Justice Party has reached 5,813 signatures, urging NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty to increase penalties after the 26-year-old man was fined $800.
Days later, the Murder of three female gropers in Vincentiaabout three hours south of Sydney, caused even more outrage, with one local describing the animals as “friendly labradors of the sea”.
The law will initially be implemented on a 12-month trial basis, with the Department for Primary Industries (DPI) consulting with stakeholders and the community on changes to the rules.
The capture of this fish for Aboriginal cultural fisheries will also continue to be permitted due to its cultural importance to Indigenous peoples.
A $500 violation notice or a maximum court-imposed fine of $22,000 or imprisonment for 6 months (or both) may apply for first-time offenders, and subsequent offenders will be liable for a fine of $44,000 or imprisonment for 12 months (or both).
Moriarty said the changes will improve compliance by creating the same rules for all recreational anglers.
“We have heard the community’s concerns and these new rules will make it clear to all water users that these fish are to be admired but not a target,” he said.
“With their bright blue color, along with their placid and curious nature, it’s no wonder why these beautiful big fish are so loved by our coastal communities.”
It comes after numerous incidents in which fishermen harpooned ‘sea plowmen’ and left local communities in an uproar (pictured, a man posing for a photo after killing Gus).