‘What an a**hole’: Locals fume over killing of iconic Blue Groper in Sutherland Shire

A local Sydney community is up in arms after a man illegally speared an iconic protected species in its waters.

Spearfisherman could have been fined up to $22,000 for killing blue groper in Sydney's south. Picture: Supplied

A local community is up in arms after a man illegally speared and killed an iconic blue groper off the coast of Cronulla in Sydney’s south on Saturday.

The blue groper, known for being non-aggressive and inquisitive, has been the official fish of New South Wales since 1996 and is protected by law from spearfishing and commercial enterprise.

The groper, affectionately named ‘Gus’ by the community, was speared at Old Park in Cronulla, which is a well-signed no-spearfishing zone.

A post on a local Facebook page has garnered over 100 comments and 500 reactions from concerned locals calling for harsher penalties and more community education.

A picture of the man on Saturday with ‘Gus’. Picture: Supplied

“Omg what an a**hole I’ve been trying to find that groper for ages. and now I’ll never get to see him. I hope this guy gets a massive fine,” one person wrote.

“So angry at this,” another wrote. “Seriously who does that for fun? Gus deserved to live. he was also protected.”

“That poor beautiful fish,” a third wrote.

“My husband is an ex-scuba diver and we both still snorkel. To have that amazing creature to swim with, now gone is beyond belief.”

Local woman Tenielle Piek told news.com.au that the “gorgeous bright blue fish” is well-known to other divers and swimmers in the area.

“Blue gropers are the ‘Labradors of the Sea’,” she said. “They are tame and curious creatures, making them extremely vulnerable to spearfishing.”

Ms Piek said she witnessed the distressing incident on Saturday.

“The man pulled the groper out of the water triumphantly,” she said.

“Locals were shocked and outraged … My mother was the first person to approach the man requesting to take his photo. He smiled and showed off his killing without realising it was a protected species and could be fined up to $11,000 for spearing a blue groper.”

Ms Piek says she fears for future generations.

“We genuinely fear our children will not get to experience these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat at the shores of Cronulla,” she said.

The man yesterday with ‘Gus’. Picture: Supplied

This isn’t the first such incident. In May, a man was pictured killing a blue groper at Hungry Point in the Sutherland Shire.

News.com.au understands that The Department of Primary Industries ramped up its response with additional signage after the May incident, though locals claim it has done little.

A Department of Primary Industries spokesperson told news.com.au they were “investigating after a photograph was obtained showing a large blue groper that may have been illegally taken by spear off Oak Park, Cronulla”.

“Groper are protected from commercial fishing and spearfishing, and can only legally be taken by line in NSW. For recreational fishers a minimum size limit of 30cm and a bag limit of two (with only one fish over 60cm) applies,” a spokesperson said.

“Penalties may include a $500 on the spot fine per offence for taking a groper by any method other than a line or handline, possession of prohibited size or exceeding the bag limit.

“Maximum penalties by way of court prosecution for an individual are $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment for a first offence relating to size and bag limits, and $11,000 for taking groper by an unlawful method.”