Call for groper removal before fish attacks again
A concerned parent is calling for the removal of a huge groper from waters around a Cape York wharf after a 10-year-old boy was attacked. HAVE YOUR SAY
Cairns
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A CONCERNED Cape York parent is calling for the removal of a huge predatory fish from waters around the Seisia wharf before the animal attacks another child.
Last Thursday the Northern Area Peninsula Council erected warning signs at the Seisia wharf, 400km north of Weipa, after a 10-year-old boy was dragged underwater by a fish measuring more than a metre long.
Father-of-three Michael Namock, from the neighbouring community of Umagico, has three children aged eight, 11 and 12-years-old.
He said he would continue to allow his children to swim in the shallows of the remote Cape York beach but would now not permit them to jump from the Seisia wharf.
“I think that groper was annoyed at the activity and noise of the wharf so gave a warning nip to stay away from his area (under) the wharf,” he said.
“(The) kid was just the unlucky one to get nipped, if an adult was there instead it would have bitten them.”
Though the child attacked last Wednesday may have been “unlucky” Mr Namock said in the interest of public safety the fish had to go.
“It should be relocated (or) removed before it does attack again,” he said.
A Fisheries Queensland spokesman said the groper was a no-take species in Queensland and was protected under law.
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“They are known to be curious and will occasionally approach humans,” he said.
“However, Fisheries Queensland urges parents to supervise their children in the water at all times and avoid feeding native marine animals.”
Mayor Eddie Newman said since the attack last week smaller children had heeded warning signs but the older kids continued to jump from the wharf.
Cr Newman said the attack was “a wakeup call” and there was a “problem”.
But didn’t think removal or relocation of the fish was the answer.
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“That’s ridiculous. They have been there for so many years. If you remove it they will come back. But where do you remove it to?” he said.
Queensland gropers, also known as the brindlebass, brown spotted cod or the bumblebee grouper can grow to 2.7 metres long and weigh up to 400kg.
Do you think the fish should be removed? Let us know in the comments below.
Originally published as Call for groper removal before fish attacks again