Couple fined $1500 for taking dog into national park on Great Barrier Reef

A Queensland couple have been fined $1500 after taking their dog into a national park.

The couple had taken their Kelpie to the small islet of Michaelmas Cay in the Great Barrier Reef, when marine park rangers spotted them on September 9, 2022.

The state environment department said the couple took their dog to the remote islet in a small vessel before letting it ashore, posing a risk to “one of the most important” seabird breeding areas on the Reef.

The couple were charged with one count each of entering a restricted access area and bringing a domestic animal into a national park.

They appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court last Thursday, where they pleaded guilty to the offences.

The man was fined $300 and ordered to pay $551.40 for court costs, while the woman was fined $200 and ordered to $450 for court costs, a total $1501.40.

“In general, if part of a national park is closed, it is closed for good reason, either to keep people safe or to protect the environment,” Ranger Dan Schaper said.

“We also don’t allow pets into national parks because they can carry diseases or injure protected wildlife.

“In this case, Michaelmas Cay provides critical habitat and breeding grounds for seabirds, which nest all year round on the coastal outcrops and can be easily disturbed by people and especially by domestic animals.

“If disturbed, adult birds could abandon their chicks and eggs, leaving them vulnerable to predatory birds and sun exposure.”