The risks that fishermen are continuing to take in crocodile-infested waters are once again raising eyebrows in the Northern Territory.
Just weeks after a man died after being knocked from his small tinny by a saltie, pictures have shown a tiny canoe that is being used by tourists on the lower reaches of the Mary River.
The photograph was taken by Territorian, Marc Franklin, at the famous barramundi fishing spot of Shady Camp, located in Mary River National Park, about 200 kilometres from Darwin
“Apparently these are tourists who are in the Shady Camp area every year,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “I just can’t believe you could feel safe in the water in a canoe like that. How can you put the canoe into the middle of Shady and not feel threatened?”
The canoe was apparently used to access a 3.75m tinny anchored in the middle of the waterway below the barrage.
Most Northern Territory rivers average five crocodiles per kilometre but, in the Mary River, that number climbs to nearly 15 saltwater crocodiles per kilometre.
Mr Franklin said he saw a five-metre saltie on his recent trip.
“I was nervous because I was by myself and he is massive,” he said. “I tried to ring the rangers to let someone know about this guy. I’m not sure you can have a non-motorised boat on a waterway like this.”
Last month, a crocodile capsized a 3.5m tinny, leading to the drowning death of 75-year-old Noel Ramage.
Rangers have previously told coronial inquests small boats were dangerous on big croc waterways and said a good minimum size was 4m-4.2m.
Crocodile expert Dr Grahame Webb has said there is little information about the frequency of crocs biting or bumping into boats.
“It was okay for years and years and years, but maybe it’s not that smart today,” he said, adding that there were recorded instances of crocodiles attacking boat propellers, having mistaken the low-frequency sound emitted as the growl of another animal.
* Have you seen people taking ‘silly’ risks in crocodile country? Comment below.
roughly 30 years ago some mates ran the boat hire at shady and upon visiting we would walk out onto the barrage and fish-back then we thought salties were only in the saltwater section and the freshwater area flowing in was ok-pretty stupid and naïve looking back now. boats for hire were pretty small back then and certainly very nervous helping the guys pull the boats back in at night. unbelievable the number of crocs sunning themselves on the banks up there when the water drops. at one point a croc was coming straight for us in the little tinnie so we hightailed it from there. risky in any boat in these areas.
The crocs 30 years ago knew not to mess with people as those people might have had a rifle. But today you might only have a big stick and it won’t make noise. Maybe time to cull a few and make them wary of humans.
40+ yrs ago we used to go on the Sth Alligator in Territory.
Plus Shady and Corroborree with 4.2mtr tinny and 25Johnno.
Normally an ex Army Mk3/4’s (.303) with a clip . ($25 a pop at Army Disposals in those day) Plus a 12g
Mainly did fishing and crabs on caost.
But not averse to a small croc or two occasionally
Grand/1100 for a 6ft skin with no holes. Covered cost of trip mostly.
There were a LOT of handbags around there in those days. Starting to get that way again.
Culling some of the mid to young ones may not go astray.
Leave the big ones. They rule each territory they in.
They Keep it tidy so to speak..
Just remember you in THEIR feeding territory and large bite size.
Treat them with respect and common sense then you won’t have a problem.
They were here long b4 us and will be long after too.