It’s a sunny April morning and the Department of Parks and Wildlife answer to another report of a helpless dolphin in the Swan River being entangled in fishing gear. As they attend the scene, the grim reality of fishing wastage being a silent killer on marine life becomes all too real. Looking from a distance, a mother and her calf swim alongside each other amongst the waves. Once approached, you can see the struggle of the distressed mother desperately trying to keep her baby afloat. The sight of the calf’s dorsal fin entangled in a crab pot is a harsh reminder to the public one of many issues present in the river. 

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The dangers and consequences marine wildlife face on a regular basis from fishing waste is reflected by the increasing injuries and deaths of these animals. However, debate surrounding the severity of the pollution compared to other maritime issues in the river is outweighed by concerns from environmental experts and the public when hearing local tragic news, such as the death of a baby dolphin. 

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On April 9 2019, the Parks and Wildlife released a statement on Facebook confirming the death of a monitored Swan River dolphin’s four-week-old calf due to being entangled in a discarded crab pot. This is the second death of a calf in the Swan River from similar circumstances to that of a mother and her baby seven months prior.

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Parks and Wildlife Services requested for the public to stay away from the dolphin during its grieving process, and highlighted the situation as a “timely reminder” to the public to dispose of their fishing waste. The statement was accompanied by images of the deceased calf in tangled fishing rope floating near its heartbroken mother. 

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“Dolphins are highly intelligent creatures and are known to stay with their young for a period of time following a death,” the Parks and Wildlife statement says.

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“Dispose of all fishing lines and ropes and report any tangled wildlife immediately to the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.”

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Since then, the images of the dolphins went viral and sparked national conversation about the hazards of discarded fisherman wastage as well as the physical damage to marine wildlife. 

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BHP’s Health, Safety and Environment marine scientist Ashley Marino stresses the importance of education and awareness around the issue to fishermen and the public in order to decrease further harmful pollution. 

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“Discussions on detrimental fishing practices and the impacts of fishing-litter will encourage targeted focus on not just the dangers to marine life, but also opportunities to improve and amend these issues,” she says.

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“Healthy discussions and graphic reminders have encouraged our society, leading to effective and supportive actions such as banning of plastic straws and plastic bags, and promoting innovative environmental projects through many social media platforms.”

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Every year, 640 000 tonnes of fishing gear enters into oceans and rivers, harming our ecosystems and marine animals. As a result, a reduction in fish stocks and livelihoods is increasingly evident.

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“Litter is often mistaken as food, which leads to the internal mutilation of naïve, hungry marine animals,” Marino says. 

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“Given these waterproof items can’t biodegrade, it is common to find hundreds of plastic items in autopsies of marine species and coastal birds.”

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Following the deaths of multiple marine animals in the Swan River due to this particular issue, The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s Parks and Wildlife Service launched its ‘Reel It In’ campaign in 2013. 

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“Discarded fishing line, hooks, sinkers, lures and general waste have the biggest impact and are a major threat to wildlife living in the Swan Canning Riverpark,” a DBCA spokesperson says.

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The DBCA installed sixty-six disposal bins using 100 per cent recycled materials, located near popular fishing spots around Western Australia “as part of the partnership with 12 riverfront local governments” and other rescue groups.

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“DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service will continue to work with peak fishing bodies such as Recfishwest and Ozfish Unlimited, local government authorities and wildlife rescue groups like Native Animal Rescue and WA Seabird Rescue, to try to reduce the number of entanglement incidents occurring in the Swan Canning Riverpark,” the DBCA says.

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“Since being launched in December 2013, the Reel It In campaign has successfully helped remove more than 75km of fishing line, 10,000 hooks & sinkers, 9,000 bait bags and thousands of items of general rubbish from Perth waterways.” 

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When bins aren’t nearby, the DBCA encourages the public to take their rubbish home with them or ensure rubbish is securely stowed onboard boats to prevent further waste from entering the waterways.

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“General rubbish should be placed in the green council bins and the Reel it in bins should only be used for fishing waste such as fishing line, hooks, sinkers, lures and bait bags,” the DBCA says. 

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“The bins provide a safe and easy way to dispose of unwanted fishing line and tackle.”

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Gary Port*, a dedicated Perth fisherman with over 40 years of fishing experience, says educating others to pick up their fishing rubbish is an integral part of the fishing practice.

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“[It’s] very annoying for guys like me who do the right thing, care for the fishery and educate our children,” he says.

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“There are many who claim not to understand the rules, the language or are purposely ignorant.”

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However, Port says most fishermen are diligent with their rubbish, and that there are other more pressing issues in the Swan River to worry about. 

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“In my opinion, chemicals leaking into the water and algal blooms present more of a problem than lines and discarded tackle,” he says.

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Just last month, The Department of Health released a statement warning people against eating fish, crabs or shellfish from the Swan River affected by a toxic algal bloom. The bloom is attributed to multiple causes, including low rainfall and available nutrients.    

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“But I also think that anyone who does discard fishing tackle into the river is a disgrace and has no real care for it.”

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Due to the success of the Reel It In project removing an estimated 20 kilometres of fishing line per year, Environmental Minister Albert Jacob said the State Government “would invest $20 thousand to continue the project” and ensure the protection of marine life against pollution.  

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons