Decline in local sea life

Northern Beaches locals claim there has been a dramatic loss of marine life around the local headland, including at Long Reef and the Intertidal Protected Areas (IPA) within the peninsula.

The IPAs – located at Cabbage Tree Bay, Barrenjoey Head, Narrabeen Head and Sydney Harbour – are specifically set up to minimise the harm and loss of this important area. While fishing is permitted in these IPAs, bait collection is not allowed, and collecting seashore animals – including crabs, snails, octopus, sea urchins, anemones, pipis, cockles, mussels, oysters, and saltwater yabbies – is strictly prohibited.

“There has been a massive decline in the amount of sea life in these areas and along the Long Reef rock shelf,” says one local resident, who doesn’t want to be named for fear of repercussions.

“There used to be an abundance of little fish and sea urchins, octopus, big crabs, pipis, sea slugs and rock oysters, but the numbers have noticeably shrunk. Keeping undersized fish is also a problem and, every year, I get into arguments with groups of people pilfering life from our rock pools.

“I have threatened to call the rangers, but it only seems to work while I'm standing there staring at them and they put whatever it is they have taken back.”

Last month, the NSW Department of Primary Industries urged residents to report illegal fishing following the grisly discovery of two discarded juvenile dusky whaler carcasses with their fins ripped off.

Curl Curl resident Bree Castel found them dumped in front of Manly Life Saving Club at the southernmost end of South Steyne, which borders on Cabbage Tree Bay Reserve, where it is illegal to fish.

“One had been neatly filleted on the sand. Its fin was missing but it still had its head and tail,” she tells Peninsula Living.

“My three-year-old son found another smaller shark nestled into the rocks that looked like it had been thrown after filleted.

“My son was distraught. Juvenile dusky whalers are a sight to see and such a joy to swim near – to think this was their safe space! It makes me angry and incredibly sad.”

Ms Castel says she’s previously alerted the rangers to suspicious behaviour by a small group of men with fishing gear within the reserve near Shelly Beach.

“They soon left the area when the rangers arrived,” she adds.

“We can only hope that people seeing such awful acts make people aware and encourages them to follow it through with a call to local authorities or get a photo on their phoneif they see something suspicious.”

The same week, Hans Haverhals found the remains of another baby shark lying on the pipes of South Steyne.

“I’m no Sherlock Holmes but I’d say the shark was caught there and filleted on the spot, within the aquatic reserve,” he says.

A Department of Primary Industries spokesperson tells Peninsula Living, “There are four fisheries officers located at North Sydney and they patrol the Northern Beaches area regularly.

“We take illegal collecting and prohibited size fish offences seriously and have been conducting several operations particularly to reduce the instances of these offences.

“The penalties for illegal collection of intertidal shellfish and possession of prohibited size fish are significant, including on the spot fines of $500, and up to $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment for a first offence.

“Fisheries officers can also seize fishing gear, vehicles and boats connected to fisheries offences.”

Community members are encouraged to report illegal and suspicious activity to the Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/compliance or directly through the NSW FishSmart app available via the App Store and Google Play store.