Angler taunts puffer fish before kicking it into ocean before shocked tourists

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: A DARWIN man has amused a group of tourists with the fish they caught - only to horrify them by what he did next.

A MAN who taunted a live puffer fish before drop kicking it into the ocean has been described as “cruel” by a witness who caught the act on video.

Estonian backpacker Gerli Aru, 23, was fishing with a friend on Nightcliff Jetty when she caught the puffer fish on Sunday morning.

“I asked the local people what fish it was, can I touch it and stuff like this,” Ms Aru said.

“A (man) said ‘don’t touch it because it’s a little bit poisonous’.

“Then he came over and said he can take it away with his hands.”

Ms Aru said she laughed as the man tickled the fish and it puffed up.

She said it was “so unexpected” when the man then drop kicked the puffer fish like a football into the water.

“I just thought, ‘that’s not funny anymore’,” Ms Aru said.

“If that happened in Estonia, then the other fisherman would have kicked his arse, for sure.”

Ms Aru said the man wanted her to catch another puffer fish so they “could make another video”.

“I didn’t say anything because I was just so shocked,” she said.

“He went his way and we went ours.”

Ms Aru said she did not report the incident to authorities.

Gerli Aru

Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Animal Welfare Branch director Peter Phillips said the incident did not “fall under the scope of the Animal Welfare Act and therefore no penalty can apply”.

He said the Act protected fish in captivity or dependant on a person for food.

“(And) a live member of a vertebrate species including an amphibian, bird, mammal — other than a human being — and reptile,” Mr Phillips said.

“Or a live crustacean if it is in or on premises where food is prepared for retail sale, or offered by retail sale, for human consumption.”

Mr Phillips said he “condemns this sort of behaviour” in relation to the puffer fish incident..

“We ask anglers to act responsibly when releasing fish,” he said.

“All fish destined to be returned to the water should be done so in the most efficient method that minimises handling time and exposure to air to reduce stress on fish and increase their chance of survival.”

People concerned about animal welfare should contact the Animal Welfare Branch on 1300 720 386.

Yeah, very funny. Not