ARTICLES
Stimulus Material for depth studies, courtesy of Macquarie University (continued)
How dumping fish scraps is putting stingrays at risk
Dumping fish waste back into the water can have significant and concerning impacts on the behaviour of marine
animals, according to a new study from Macquarie University’s Department of Biological Sciences published in
Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Recreational anglers typically return to boat ramps and wharves after fishing to clean their catch, discarding the
scraps and bones back into the water where they are scavenged by fish, crabs, snails and birds.
“It might seem harmless, but feeding wildlife, whether on purpose or not, can change animals’ behaviour,
disrupt the food chain, and cause negative health impacts,” says lead author of the study, Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons.
The researchers looked at a small group of short-tail stingrays in Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast, which have
scavenged fish scraps at a popular boat ramp for over 30 years.
They found that this seemingly small-scale and incidental feeding strongly influenced the behaviour and
movements of the stingrays. The stingrays would arrive in anticipation of food even if anglers were not present
and cleaning fish.
Find out more
Syllabus link: Biology syllabus Module 4 - Ecosystem dynamics
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 4