Gday,

This petition has its origin in a deeply personal experience, one intertwined with my lifelong love for fishing. I have always been an avid fisherman, spending many pleasurable hours at local jetties and the beach's. My fishing passion led me to chase the thrill of capturing stingrays, right until a transformative encounter late one night at the beach.

I was left alone with a Giant smooth ray that I had caught, struggling to return it to its aquatic home. Once finally released, instead of rushing back to the depths, this magnificent creature swam over my foot, rested there for a brief moment as if in a silent communion, and then swam away. This unexpected interaction sparked a profound change in my heart.

Stingrays are extraordinary beings - their presence in the ocean ecosystem is vital. Numerous scientific reports indicate that stingrays play an integral role in balancing our marine environments, and their populations are under serious threat due to fishing activities (source: "Stingray Biology, Ecology, and Conservation" by Dr. Colin Simpfendorfer, et al., Journal of Fish Biology, 2019).

It’s time we rethink our practices and how they impact the majesty and balance of the natural world. Leaving rays to die on the beach or brutally killing them is unacceptable, along with leaving hooks and line in them instead of de hooking them properly. Urgently, we appeal to those in authority to help protect these creatures by introducing legislation that prohibits the fishing of Smooth rays . Please, sign this petition, let us stand up for these silent, misunderstood inhabitants of the deep, and join the fight to preserve our marine life before it's too late. Sign, and make a change.

#SAVETHERAYS