Sickening and Cruel: Butchered Chowder Bay Bull Rays spark fierce community backlash.

By ANNA USHER

The Mosman community is in shock after pictures emerged online of two discarded Bull Ray carcasses with their wings cut off, sparking outrage over the “sickening and cruel” act.

It is believed the Bull Rays – both well-known Chowder Bay residents aged at least 20 years old – were targeted by anglers last Friday night, then mutilated and thrown off the jetty.

Local divers made the gruesome discovery on Saturday morning, saying they were confronted by a horrific scene of “barbaric cruelty” on the sea floor.

Jayne Jenkins from the Friends of Chowder Bay Group said the local diving community is devastated by the senseless violence.

“The two rays were very much part of our underwater world, and it honestly feels like we’ve lost family members,” she told Mosman Collective.

“They suffered unimaginable pain and suffering in what seems to be a targeted attack.”

Ms Jenkins said she found fresh chicken legs and meat on the sea floor, which she believes was used to attract the massive marine creatures.

“The largest ray was over three metres and weighed around 250kg,” Ms Jenkins said.

“It was lured, then hooked, then brought to the surface.

“One man alone cannot perform a task like this. In my view, it was a coordinated effort with several accomplices.”

Both rays were cut up while still alive, Ms Jenkins said, and then thrown back into the water to die.

“These people must have used a large vehicle to transport their bounty; somebody out there knows something.”

Diver Henrietta Sharp (not her real name) described the rays as “friends” who had lived quietly under the jetty for two decades.

“They were very tame creatures who would often swim up to say hello,” she said.

“I am appalled and sickened by the suffering they endured.”

Diver Peter Hutchins told Mosman Collective it appears at least one of the rays was stabbed and was found with a “huge split” down its head.

There are now calls by some in the community to ban fishing in local waters, a privilege that resident Marie Stewart said is “constantly abused”.

“Council and the Fisheries department need to work together to clean up the sorry state of affairs at Clifton Gardens,” she told Mosman Collective.

“The sea floor is polluted with fishing lines, hooks, carcasses and plastic bait bags.

“It is an utter disgrace; even the new Sea Horse hotels are covered in line – but no one in local government or Fisheries ever addresses our complaints.”

Mr Hutchins also issued a chilling caution to people using the the beach for health and recreation.

“With carcasses of this size, just metres away from swimmers, there is an obvious safety issue,” he said.

“This type of careless, stupid behaviour will only attract sharks.”

Jayne Jenkins wants to see the introduction of “sustainable and monitored fishing” alongside a Bull Ray ban, but said it would require constant policing.

“Clifton Gardens is filled with fishermen and women, but we rarely see the authorities pay them a visit,” she said.

“Fishing licences need to be checked; the number of fishing rods people use must be checked.

“Yes, many fishermen do the right thing, but others are despicable.

“I invite government officials to come and see for themselves the amount of discarded fishing lines, hooks, carcasses and plastic found on the sea floor at Chowder Bay.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Primary Industries told Mosman Collective they are investigating the Bull Ray deaths.

“DPI advises that the community is discouraged from directly targeting, disturbing or interacting with rays adjacent to boat ramps and fish cleaning facilities as they are often socially important to the local community,” the spokesperson said.

“Spearfishing is not allowed at Chowder Bay as part of a closure under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.”

Mosman Collective is appealing for anyone with information on the Bull Ray attack to get in touch via email: anna@mosmancollective.com

And, if you live in the vicinity of Clifton Gardens and have dash cam footage or CCTV of any vehicles leaving via the Morella Rd gates on Friday night, please make contact.