New angle to tackle fishing waste

Discarded fishing line can injure and kill marine animals and birds. Eurobodalla Council is tackling the problem of recreational fishing waste by installing purpose-designed bins at popular fishing spots and boat ramps across the shire.

Council’s natural resources officer Tom Gear says tackle bins make it easy for people to dispose of their used tackle or abandoned tackle waste they find lying around.

“Discarded fishing line can severely entangle birds and animals, restricting them and causing starvation, infection and amputation, and even death.” Mr Gear said.

“Ideally fishers would take home their used lines, tackle and bait bags when done but we do currently have about a dozen tackle bins across the shire as backup. If we install more we can better reduce the impact of fishing waste on local wildlife and protect more of our amazing coast.

“We’re currently looking for new locations to install the tackle bins and looking for volunteers happy to take on the responsibility of becoming a tackle-bin custodian – which is our fancy way of naming the good folk who empty the bins out every so often and let us know if they get vandalised or go missing.”

To suggest a new location or to become a tackle recovery bin monitor contact Tom Gear at [email protected].