A young family have discovered a disfigured stingray on the banks of a Perth river, shedding light on a shocking legal loophole in the state.
The stingray carcass was found with its wings hacked away from its body on the banks of the Swan River.
“Awful find out the front of Zephyr Cafe today while looking for the local stingray that visits,” the traumatised parent wrote in a post to a local community social media page.
“[We] found this instead.”
Photographs posted alongside the post show the stingray’s unrecognisable corpse camouflaged by the surrounding sand and river water.
“Our kids were devastated,” the parent said.
“Who does this? Massive blood trail, missing wings and speared in the head. Who can we notify? Fisheries?”
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokesperson said they had received several reports of stingrays being found without their wings in the Swan River in the past 12 months.
Rays have cartilaginous “wings” that are sometimes fished to be eaten as a delicacy in some countries.
The are highly susceptible to overfishing due to their slow growth, late sexual maturity and that they give birth to few young.
Though frowned upon, it is legal in the state of Western Australia for fishermen to remove the wings from stingrays.
However, a DPIRD spokesperson said it is considered unacceptable to leave behind the unwanted remains of a stingray.
The department determined the dead stingray was most likely an Eagle Ray, a species of stingray that can be taken legally by recreational fishers.
“At all times we urge all fishers to keep the environment clean and pristine,” the spokesperson said.
Fishers are urged to keep beaches and waterways clean by bringing litter back with them including food and bait containers, cigarette butts, and other waste.
They should not dump fish frames or offal near boat ramps or popular swimming beaches as decaying fish matter can attract sharks and impact other beach users.
If there is no bin available, fishers are advised to take the unwanted part of the catch home to fertilise a garden or to freeze and then disposing of it through their household rubbish collection.
People are encouraged to report any suspected illegal fishing to FishWatch so it can be followed up by DPIRD Fisheries Officers. FishWatch reports can be made via the Crime Stoppers web page or by calling 1800 815 507.