Gruesome photographs showing the mutilated carcasses of decomposing manta rays in a Sydney Harbor bay have angered local divers and environmentalists.
Underwater footage from Chowder Bay, location of the popular Clifton Gardens swimming spot on the north coast, shows the remains of two stingrays that were apparently captured, had their edible fins cut off and were thrown back into the water to die slowly.
Local diver and photographer Jayne Jenkins posted the images on social media on August 14, claiming that both rays were at least 20 years old and were carelessly discarded after their “wings” were clipped.
“Not much to say today other than one of the saddest dives in Chowder Bay…” he posted.
Since then, an image of a dead eagle ray with fishing hooks stuck in its flesh in the bay has also surfaced online.
“Unfortunately it’s legal, but too many stingrays are being killed in Chowder Bay,” Ms Jenkins told Mosman Collective.
Local divers also reported finding chicken bones beneath the Chowder Bay jetty, suggesting they were used as bait.
The discovery of the dead rays has led to calls for a ban on fishing and the establishment of an aquatic reserve in the area.
Gruesome photographs showing the carcasses of dead and rotting stingrays in a Sydney Harbor bay have caused outrage among local divers and environmentalists.
Underwater photographs taken in Chowder Bay, on the north side of the harbour, show the remains of two rays allegedly captured, hacked to death and thrown into the water.
“Fishing in Chowder (Bay) should have been banned years ago,” one person posted beneath photos of the dead rays.
Many others commented that the sight of dead stingrays was “sad”, “heartbreaking” and “cruel”.
Mrs. Jenkins told the Mosman Diary the rays were “friendly” and an attraction for divers.
‘I’ve been diving in the bay for 30 years and it seems like all we do is clean lines and hooks and even whole fishing rods.
‘In the peak season, you can gather up to 100 anglers on the dock and everyone is allowed three rods each.
“We believe that, at a minimum, fishing should be done ethically and responsibly.”
Recreational Fishing Alliance NSW president Stan Konstantaras described calls to ban fishing in the area as “the dumbest idea in the world”.
“We’re allowed to fish for manta rays, so why would we want to give up a fishing spot like that based on a couple of manta rays?” he told the publication.
“It’s just an attempt by environmentalists to ban fishing.”
Recreational Fishing Alliance NSW president Stan Konstantaras described calls to ban fishing in this part of Sydney Harbor as “the dumbest idea in the world”.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the government had no plans to ban fishing in Chowder Bay.
“Making the arbitrary decision to simply close it because of these circumstances, tragic as they are, is not something the government is looking to do,” he said.
An investigation by Department of Primary Industries fisheries officials was unable to establish the identity of the fishermen responsible for the acts, but in a statement it said it would continue to regularly patrol the area in a bid to deter illegal activity.
The controversy came after an angler was fined just $500 for spearing a protected blue shark at Oak Park rock pool in Cronulla in January this year.
The fish, affectionately known as ‘Gus’, had lived in the area for decades and was well known to divers and swimmers, and its death sparked fury in the local community.
