Qld: Shark victim may have been fishing illegally

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2004
Qld: Shark victim may have been fishing illegally

Fisheries inspectors will investigate whether the man killed in a shark attack off
the far north Queensland coast was spearfishing illegally.

Thirty-eight-year-old MARK THOMPSON from Clifton Beach, was with two friends at Opal
Reef, about 75 kilometres from Cairns, when a shark attacked at about 1pm (AEST) on Saturday.

Mr THOMPSON suffered massive leg wounds and had a heart attack and died before paramedics
could reach him.

Queensland boaties and fisheries acting Cairns district manager ROBERT HALL says authorities
need to know the exact location of the attack.

Mr HALL says Opal Reef itself and areas surrounding the reef are known as the green
zone, while above the northern part of Opal Reef is a public appreciation area.

Green zones are closed to fishing under federal law to protect the Great Barrier Reef
and its depleting fish stocks, while spear fishing is restricted in public appreciation
zones.

AAP RTV am/ved/lm

KEYWORD: SHARK (BRISBANE)

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