Fishermen or dolphin killers?

TWO fishermen have admitted stabbing a dolphin in Corio Bay last month but claim it was already dead and they were only trying to sink it.

They will not be charged as pathology tests have failed to determine the cause of the dolphin's death.

"As far as we are concerned, the investigation is now closed unless we get some new information," said Department of Sustainability and Environment wildlife manager Ron Waters.
Wildlife officers were horrified by the discovery of a dead bottlenose dolphin with seven stab wounds at Corio Bay on September 19.

Two fishermen came forward after widespread publicity and said they had stabbed the carcass in an attempt to sink it and avoid it washing up on a beach.

"The cause of death could not be determined however … tests revealed it was unlikely to have been related to the stabbing," Mr Waters said. "But the bottom line is that we don't know what killed the animal but we would open this case tomorrow if anybody else came forward with information."