The Western Australia Government is increasing the penalty for feeding or taunting crocodiles to $200,000, saying lives are being put at risk by people videoing stunts like luring crocodiles onto boat ramps or making them jump for food.

In recent years people have started posting videos online of their close encounters with the potentially deadly saltwater crocodiles, often laughing as the large animals lunge at fishing lines or snap at fish bones dangling from the back of boats.

Parks and Wildlife Service Marine Park Manager Darren Stevens said he has been shocked by the risky behaviours people are filming.

He said it is not only dangerous to poke or feed a crocodile, but can teach them bad habits that increases the risk of attack for other boaters in the area.

"We are seeing an increase in interactions with crocodiles, whether that is feeding them, encouraging them to the back of boats in other ways, or harassing animals," Mr Stevens said.

"That kind of thing actually changes the behaviour of the animals, because it encourages them to come to other boats which may not be expecting to see them, and makes them behave more aggressively to people who arrive in the area later and would not be expecting it.

"I can see the thrill in it, it is not a smart thing to do and it is not responsible to other people."

Feeding crocodiles from boats is allowed in some parts of the Northern Territory, but illegal in Western Australia. ( Supplied )

Tougher laws

While fatal crocodile attacks are not unusual in the Northern Territory, there has not been a death in WA for more than 30 years.

But with the number of crocodiles, tourists and boats on the rise in the north of WA, the Parks and Wildlife Service says the risk of attack is increasing.

The WA Government is in the process of overhauling the wildlife laws, with regulations coming into effect later this year increasing the powers of prosecution and the penalties for interfering with animals like crocodiles.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said the maximum penalty will increase to $200,000.

Authorities are concerns about people feeding crocodiles at boat ramps and fishing spots in the Kimberley. ( Supplied )

"At the moment it is quite a convoluted process if we find someone who is feeding or teasing a crocodile, so what we have done with the new Conservation and Biodiversity Act is we have made it very clear that it is not appropriate," he said.

Some local fisherman, who did not want to be named, have dismissed the need for further regulation, describing coverage of the crocodile risk as "government propaganda".

They argue feeding crocodiles does not increase the risk of attack significantly and the onus should be on boaters to take responsibility for their own safety.

That is something Minister Stephen Dawson rejects.

"These are specially protected animals, they are dangerous and people should not feed them or play with them," he said.

"The worst case scenario is that people could lose their leg or their lives, quite simply."

Dambimangari ranger Adrian Lane says crocodiles are becoming more aggressive because of people feeding and teasing them. ( Supplied: Parks and Wildlife Service )

Sacred significance

Aboriginal rangers are also urging people to leave the growing number of crocodiles alone, saying its creating behaviours that will result in more animals having to be trapped or killed.

Dambimangari ranger Adrian Lane, who helps patrol a vast area of coastline in the West Kimberley, said the last thing they want is to have to destroy the animals.

"They have important animals and they have always had this affiliation with us because they have been drawn in our rock art all through the Kimberley coast from the north to the south," he said.

"When you start educating the animal to do this, all this feeding and throwing rocks and stuff, you take away their natural instincts … that will create problems."