TWO young men who removed the jaws of a dead great white shark have found themselves in trouble with the law.
The men came across the two metre long shark on the Ninety Mile Beach east of Seaspray. They decided to remove the jaws as a trophy but great white sharks are fully protected, even when dead, no matter how they have died.
The men were given a diversionary order in the Sale Magistrates’ Court and charged $300 in costs.
Senior fisheries officer Errol Parmigiani said even if found dead on the beach, it was illegal to cut or remove any part of a great white shark.
“Land based game fishing is increasing in popularity along the Ninety Mile Beach,” he said.
“Fishermen need to be aware that if they catch great white sharks they need to be released immediately unharmed.
“Great white sharks are still protected when they are dead.
“The reason is that people may claim that the shark has died from natural causes when in fact they have caught it themselves.”
