Wildlife rescuer urges anglers to report injured animals Injured birds left for dead
A GOLD Coast wildlife rescuer wants tougher penalties for fishermen who hook and then leave distressed birds for dead.
Wild Bird Rescue’s Rowley Goonan said the number of birds being tangled in fishing nets or baited lines had escalated to the point where he was now saving more than one a day.
“Of the 500-plus birds I catch every year, at least half have sustained a fishingrelated injury,” he said.
“The cost of capture, transport and repair incurred by my rescue service and local vets and veterinary hospitals is enormous.”
However, Mr Goonan said the same responsibility was not being replicated by recreational fishermen.
“I’m lucky if I get two calls a year (from anglers), yet I’m rescuing hundreds of birds every year.
“Even more concerning is that half of those 20 or so calls over the years have come from parents of kids under 10 years of age after their child hooked a bird.
“Those parents were keen to teach their children to do the right thing by wildlife, which begs the question, why aren’t adult fishers doing the right thing?”
Mr Goonan wants better education for recreational fishermen and a strengthening of the legislation to protect wildlife.
Discarding fishing tackle is regarded by the Department of Environment and Heritage as littering and illegal dumping which carries fines of $252 up to $5046 for individuals under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Mr Goonan said key areas that also needed urgent attention included leaving set lines unattended, casting among waterbirds and discarding lengths of unwanted fishing line.
Mr Goonan’s capture records include injuries and hospitalisations of pelicans, swans, pigeons, cygnets, ducks, waterhens, ibis and curlew.
I’M LUCKY IF I GET TWO CALLS A YEAR (FROM ANGLERS), YET I’M RESCUING HUNDREDS OF BIRDS EVERY YEAR. ROWLEY GOONAN
“Last Sunday I attended five injured swans, four of which were suffering from fishing-related injuries,” he said. “One swan had a lure in its mouth.
“At some point the lower treble hooks on that lure became snagged on the bird’s chest, pinning its bill to its chest. The creature was in great distress.
“Another swan had a hook deeply embedded in its jaw.
“Again, none of the fishers who hooked those birds called to get them help.”