Hook, line and sinker: Fishing for blue groper banned in NSW

The NSW government has outlawed line fishing of the iconic blue groper after two separate spearfishing incidents in Sydney and Jervis Bay sparked widespread community outrage.

The puppy dogs of the sea are the official fish of NSW – the only state to have one – and are known for their friendly nature, even eating from the hands of swimmers.

Fishing for blue gropers will be made illegal.Credit: Brook Mitchell

Blue gropers are a protected fish species. Spearfishing of blue, brown and red groper has been prohibited since 1969, while commercial fishing of blue, brown and red groper has been prohibited since 1980, although line fishing of gropers was permitted.

But the new rules will change this. Now, anyone taking a blue groper by any method will face a $500 penalty infringement notice or a maximum court-imposed fine of $22,000 or imprisonment for six months.

Gus the groper was killed by a spearfisher at Cronulla in December.

This will increase to a $44,000 fine or imprisonment for 12 months (or both) for a second offence.

The rules will be initially implemented for a 12-month trial period, and the government will consult stakeholders and the broader community on longer-term changes to blue groper fishing.

Where did this all start?

Two incidents this summer brought the protection of blue gropers back into the spotlight. The first was in Cronulla, when a 26-year-old man posed in a photo with a speared fish, believed to be a long-term resident of the area known as Gus the groper. The man was subsequently issued a penalty notice for taking a groper and not using a rod, line or handline.

Just days later, another man was caught spearfishing three blue gropers in Jervis Bay.

Blue gropers are particularly susceptible to spearfishing and, in the past, have been heavily harvested.

Craig McGill, owner of Fishabout Sydney Harbour, hit out at the new ban as “an emotive decision”, saying it was based on the behaviour of two individuals. He said no baseline data had been collected before the trial, meaning it would be difficult to see how the population changed over 12 months.

McGill added few people fish for blue groper because it requires special bait and can only be done in limited locations near rocky outcrops. Of his clients, only a few wanted to fish for blue gropers and release them (before the rule change), but otherwise, there wasn’t much demand for it.

“They are an abundant fish, they’re not listed as endangered. They are friendly and cute, but you can’t do conservation and science based on being friendly and cute.”

Humane Society International Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck welcomed the new rules but hoped the government would also seek to increase the number of marine protected areas.

The state’s marine parks cover one-third of NSW’s marine estate.

Chlebeck said the abundance of blue gropers indicated the health of marine ecosystems, but if a male dies off, the next largest female will take his place – changing her behaviour and physiology over a few weeks.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the changes would make clear the fish were to be admired, not targeted.

“With their bright blue colour, alongside their placid and curious nature, there is little wonder why these beautiful big fish are so well-loved by our coastal communities,” she said.

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