Three platypuses were killed in an illegal fishing trap at Yarra Junction in the space of two days last week.
On Friday 11 July a Yarra Ranges Council worker removed an illegal fishing trap from the Little River at Yarra Junction which was found to contain two dead adult male platypuses. A bystander informed him that the previous day another platypus had been killed in the same trap.
In May, Star Mail reported on a similar death of a platypus found in discarded fishing nets in Warburton East.
Director of the Australian Platypus Conservancy, Geoff Williams, said that this incident was highly disturbing.
“Enclosed yabbying and fishing nets, including opera house traps, were totally banned in Victoria in mid-2017,” Mr Williams said.
“It is of great concern that some people still seem to have not got the message. It is even more worrying that, having killed a platypus one day, the same person would come back and kill two more the next.”
Significant fines can be imposed for illegal use of traps and a prison sentence can be imposed for killing native wildlife.
This incident is under investigation by Victorian Fisheries Authority officers. Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the VFA Hotline on 13FISH (133 474).
All persons undertaking fishing or yabbying are reminded to check state recreational fishing regulations to ensure that the equipment they are using is allowable in order to avoid both heavy penalties and the risk of potentially killing platypuses and other aquatic wildlife.
Yarra Ranges Council confirmed a member of their staff did discover the fishing nets but was unable to comment further.
