Anglers need to be aware of impact of discarded line

It is hoped that the death of a juvenile swan on Templeport Lake because of discarded fishing line will highlight the danger to wildlife posed by careless anglers. The problem is widespread, with untold numbers of animals injured or killed each year as a result of fishing line.

When angling equipment isn't disposed of properly, it creates an environmental hazard. Monofilament fishing line is plastic. Plastic products do decompose, but it takes a long time and monofilament line can take 600 years to break down.

Isabel Duggan Rofé made the grim discovery when enjoying the amenity of the lake: “Myself and my 10-year-old boy were out kayaking on Templeport Lake. We saw this white object in the water and, when we went toward it, it turned out to be a swan. What annoyed me was that this is the third one I found in the last three or four years. They all died as a result of discarded fishing lines or fishing hooks.”

The upset of the find was exacerbated by the fact that the lake is a sanctuary. The ban on shooting should protect wild birds that use the lake for nesting, however they are threatened by other factors. Isabel, the chairperson of Templeport Development Association, believes that the discarded line was an act of carelessness: “I do a small bit of fishing, but I'm not an angler. I have two theories on what has happened.

“There are a lot of reeds on that lake. Some fishermen will just cut the line if it gets entangled in the reeds, rather than try and spend the time to untangle it. The other is that, if the line being used is not strong enough and the fisherman lands say, a big pike, perhaps the line will snap. This was expensive braided line. It wasn't cheap line.”

Isabel was distressed by the find: “It was a juvenile swan, perhaps two years old. It's the worse time of year for this to happen. It's breeding season and there are a good few nests on the lake. There is one swan with a number of signets out already. This swan we found was too young to mate, but he did have a mate.

“I tried to take as much line from him as I could. I couldn't get it all off him. It was in his mouth and around one of his wings,” she said.

As this was not the first time she made such a gruesome discovery she did a bit of research: “It's not something that you or I would see, however when animals come across it, it can be fatal. When I came home I was furious. A quick google told me that in 2017, in one month, 600 water foul were victim of discarded fishing lines and hooks.”

Although the incident was likely the result of ignorance rather than malice, Isabel said that the blame rests firmly on the fisherman: “There is no excuse for ignorance. The majority of anglers would be aware of wildlife. Perhaps they are not aware of the importance of the different strengths of line. Our actions, whether good or bad, always have a consequence.”

She was not the only one upset by the swans death: “My 10 year old boy was devastated by what had happened, but it would be good if this one incident brought an awareness of what can happen with discarded fishing line. I feel quite strongly that this need be highlighted. I understand it’s probably a minority of anglers. However all need know the destructive impact our actions have on our precious wildlife, be it discarded fishing line, hooks or littler.”