A spearfisherman has sparked outrage after illegally killing a blue groper that divers had affectionately called 'Gus'.
The fisherman 'triumphantly' retrieved the protected species from the Oak Park rock pool in Cronulla – a no-go spearfishing area in South Sydney – on Saturday.
Gus was a beloved fish among local divers and swimmers and was estimated to be about 35-40 years old.
The blue groper has been the state's official fish since 1996 and has protective status and laws that stipulate the creature cannot be caught commercially or with a spear.
Images of the man and his catch were posted to social media, where one 'angry' local said: 'Gus deserved to live' and wondered 'who does that for fun?'
A spearfisherman has sent Cronulla locals into panic after killing a 35-40 year old blue groper affectionately called Gus by divers and swimmers (pictured)
A second said he had “been trying to find that grouper for ages and now I'll never see it again,” describing the fisherman as a “son of a bitch.”
'That poor beautiful fish… My husband is an ex-diver and we both still snorkel. The fact that this amazing creature is now no longer around to swim with is unbelievable,” said a third.
Tenielle Piek, a local resident who saw the man pulling the fish from the water, described blue gropers as the “Labradors of the sea” because of their calm and inquisitive temperament, which makes them vulnerable to spearfishermen.
“My mother was the first to approach the man with the request to take a photo of him,” says Mrs. Piek News.com.au.
“He smiled and showed off his kill without realizing it was a protected species.”
She said the community “fears” the local population of bluebirds and that future generations will not be able to experience them in their natural habitat.
The catch comes just a month after the Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) fisheries division increased signage that the waters are a no-spear fishing area.
A DPI spokesperson said an investigation is underway into the photos showing the man taking the fish that “may have been illegally speared.”
Images of the man are being investigated by the Department of Primary Industries after the man speared the protected fish in waters that restrict spearfishing
'Gropers are protected from commercial fishing and spearfishing, and can only be legally caught on line in NSW. For recreational anglers, there is a minimum size of 12 inches and a bag limit of two (with only one fish over 24 inches),” the spokesperson said.
“The maximum criminal penalties for an individual are $22,000 and/or six months' imprisonment for a first offense relating to size and bag limits, and $11,000 for unlawfully taking a groped.”
According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, “threats to blue gropers come primarily from fishing and harvesting of aquatic resources.”
“Blue feelers are an important species for maintaining balance in their ecosystem by controlling the numbers of other animals such as crabs and sea urchins,” the website says.
Another fisherman posed proudly with a Blue Groper he speared about a kilometer west in Port Hacking in May.
The photo of the spearfisherman was taken by a local resident who was with her son who was also fishing.
The resident then claimed he “left pretty quickly” when she informed him of the possible $22,000 fine for killing the fish.