The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' 'Reel It In' campaign has hooked another town into reducing fishing waste in Western Australia's marine environment.
Walpole is the latest town to get involved and recently installed purpose-built fishing waste bins at Coalmine boat ramp, Nornalup rest stop and Walpole town jetty all within the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park.
These new South Coast locations add to the bins already installed at popular jetties, fishing platforms, traffic bridges and foreshores throughout the Swan Canning Riverpark and Perth metropolitan beaches.
New bins are also being installed in Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, at the Port Kennedy and Bent Street boat ramps, and at Mersey Point Jetty.
DBCA is looking for volunteers to help empty these bins. Please contact the department at [email protected] to get involved.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Discarded fishing line can have significant impacts on our wildlife, as it doesn't break down in the environment.
"This has been recently highlighted with fishing line entanglements contributing to the deaths of two dolphins in the Swan River and a young dolphin which was repeatedly caught in fishing line in Mandurah.
"Reel It In is an effective solution to the serious problem of fishing line entanglement and I'm pleased that these bins are being rolled out across Walpole."
As stated by Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly:
"This project is a seemingly simple but very effective way to improve the health of our oceans and wildlife.
"It's great to see that the fishing community is embracing this initiative and taking responsibility for discarded fishing line, hooks, sinkers and other fishing waste.
"Since the project started in 2013, the community has helped remove more than 83km of fishing line."
