Friendly stingray slaughtered in front of screaming children

A stingray that became a much-loved tourist attraction in Hamelin Bay in Australia was speared and hacked to pieces in front of distressed children. The friendly ray, affectionately dubbed "Stumpy" because it had no barb, was sliced up and crammed into a portable cooler last month by two young fishermen, while shocked families screamed their protests.

Officials cannot prosecute anyone because the bay 30km south of Margaret River and famous for its stingrays is open to recreational fishing. A management plan penned in 2006 for coastal waters between Geographe Bay and Augusta, which could better protect the stingrays, is still sitting on government desks.

Stumpy was one of the oldest, friendliest and biggest of the black and eagle rays in Hamelin Bay. It was more than 1m across and was happy to be approached and petted by visitors. Hamelin Bay Holiday Park worker Kate Silverwood said some guests had to be restrained from attacking the fishermen. "They (the fishermen) cut off the wings of Stumpy while he was still alive," she said.

"People were absolutely mortified, kids were standing there crying. A lot of people have been coming here for so long and they were just devastated." Ms Silverwood said there were about 40 people on the beach at 9am when the slaughter occurred. More than 600 people have signed a petition calling on Fisheries Minister Norman Moore to turn the area into a marine park sanctuary zone to better protect the rays.