Little Bay Beach: Spearfishing ban slammed by club

A push to ban spearfishing at a popular beach in Sydney’s east has been met with fierce criticism from longstanding spearfishers who have vowed to fight the proposal.

A push to ban spearfishing at Little Bay Beach in Sydney’s southeast has been slammed by a local club who say spearfishing has a lengthy history in the bay and regulations already exist to protect swimmers.

Randwick Council voted last week to write to the NSW Department of Primary Industries – which oversees fishing regulations across Sydney – to request a ban on all spearfishing at Little Bay Beach.

Council documents stated some residents raised concerns about spearfishing at the picturesque but relatively small bay including “entering the water in the midst of beachgoers” and hunting near swimmers and snorkellers.

Little Bay Beach.

A local spearfishing club has hit back at the proposed ban telling the Southern Courier rules already exist to protect swimmers and promote shared access.

Sans Souci Dolphins Spearfishing Club life member Simon Trippe, who has spearfisher at Little Bay since the 1970s, said a large sign had been erected at the top of the stairs above the beach setting out exactly where spearfishers can actually fish.

The sign was put up following consultation and recommends spearfishers only fish near the reef, beyond the actual beach area.

The spearfishing sign at Little Bay.

“Occasionally someone will walk through (among beachgoers) and doesn’t read the sign there that is massive,” he said. “The issue seems to be from people who are new to the area.”

He claimed club members and local spearfishers never entered or exited the water among beachgoers.

“We want to share the access and make sure everyone is safe,” he said.

Under existing laws, spearfishing can only take place within the last 20m at each end of any given beach in NSW (unless that beach has a complete ban).

Sans Souci Dolphins Spearfishing Club members fishing in the eastern suburbs.

The existing sign erected above Little Bay Beach asks spearfishers to go one step further and only fish among the reef beyond the beach, as it is a small bay.

Mr Trippe said spearfishers had fished at Little Bay for decades and it would be a huge loss if a ban was slapped on the bay.

“From my perspective it is just a safe place to go (spearfishing) for newbies and beginners and kids.

Little Bay.

“They can get in there and it is protected from the northerly and southerly winds and they can hone their craft in relative safety. It is great for them to learn.

“I would fight tooth and nail to ensure that spearfishing stays there.”

Currently, Clovelly and Gordon’s Bay are the only beaches in the eastern suburbs where spearfishing is banned.

Suspected illegal fishing activity can be reported by calling the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536.