Desperate plea after woman's 'legendary' act on Aussie riverbank: 'Please don't'
The latest incident has sparked renewed pleas to fishers to bring an end to the common issue plaguing the country's waterways.
A local woman's "fantastic effort" in saving an injured pelican has highlighted a sad and common issue plaguing Aussie waterways. "It’s not unusual" to see several birds entangled in fishing gear a day, Katrina Porteus told Yahoo News, pleading with fishers to do better when casting a line.
The sea snake and turtle rescuer from Lennox Head, in northern NSW, was praised for saving a pelican this week after it was spotted with a fishing lure attached to its foot. "Fishing line and hook entanglements make up most of our bird rescues," she explained.
Porteus said she first saw the injured pelican a few days earlier at a nearby boat ramp where she and others rescued several birds that had all been "caught up in fishing line".
Unable to reach it, she was pleased to discover the animal again at a different location, and using a "little timber ladder" left on the riverbank by a local, she was able to finally capture it. A photo shared on social media shows Porteus moments after the "amazing" rescue.
"You're a legend," one person commented on the Facebook post. "Awesome work," another said. "It's amazing you never gave up on the pelican. Thank you for your kindness," a third shared.
Anglers urged not to leave discarded fishing gear around
The incident has prompted renewed pleas to anglers to be more careful while fishing in Aussie waterways. According to Australian Seabird Rescue, 90 per cent of the injuries sustained by seabirds and shorebirds are from discarded fishing tackle and line.
"My advice for fishers is to avoid casting out or reeling in if a bird is in the line of fire. Please don’t leave discarded hooks and line around," Porteus told Yahoo. "We know birds can be cheeky and pinch fish, and accidents happen but once we know about it we can rescue it and get it sorted out".
While it's important for locals to report any sightings, it's advised they don't attempt to pull out a hook or line themselves and instead call in an expert, such as a local rescuer.
Calls for change to fix 'increasing problem'
Dr Danielle Huston, a vet at Animal Emergency Service on the Sunshine Coast, said it's not just seabirds and other marine life that are easily harmed, but dogs too. She told Yahoo fishing-related injuries in pets are very common. While more prominent in the summer months when beaches are more populated, her clinic can see up to 10 a year, at least.
Meanwhile, Taronga Wildlife Hospital Rescue and Rehabilitation Coordinator, Libby Hall, told Yahoo they now see more animals impacted by fishing hooks and fishing lines than they used to. "It's an increasing problem," she said.
Last year, a 50kg green sea turtle was rescued by a local resident in Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, who found the animal "weak and floating in the water" before taking it to Taronga Wildlife Hospital. There they discovered she had swallowed seven fishing hooks and had her "intestines pierced by fishing line".
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