An illegal fishing trap has killed three platypuses in Yarra Junction which has sparked outrage and concern amid recent fisheries officer cuts.
Two dead adult male platypuses were found in the Little Yarra River by a Yarra Ranges Council staff member on 11 July and a member of the public reported a third dead platypus the previous day.
A council spokesperson condemned the use of opera house nets, which trap platypuses from resurfacing once they’ve entered it.
“Anyone fishing in Victorian rivers or streams must comply with laws about equipment, such as the ban on enclosed fishing nets, such as opera house nets.
“These nets can indiscriminately kill wildlife, such as platypuses, and it’s extremely disappointing that people continue to do the wrong thing, almost 10 years after the ban came into effect,” a council spokesperson said.
The disappointment was echoed by the director of Australian Platypus Conservancy Geoff Williams.
“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,” Mr Williams said.
But the death of the platypuses have been seen as a consequence of cuts to just under half of fisheries officers by the Allan Labor Government earlier this year.
Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) parks and nature campaigner Jordan Crook said it was heartwrenching to witness the damage caused by a lack of enforcement.
“There’s less regulators on the beat making sure traps like this don’t get set and encouraging folks to use traps that are safe for platypus while also still being able to catch yabbies,” Mr Crook said.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) reduced its overall staffing by 50 per cent and slashed the number of compliance officers across the state from 73 to 35 in June.
But, VFA chief executive officer Travis Dowling disagreed that the cuts would result in an uptick of illegal fishing behaviour.
“There has been a heightened focus on people’s offending because of the fact we’ve gone through a restructure within the organisation, but there is no evidence to suggest that offending has increased,” Mr Dowling said in an ABC article.
Opera house nets were banned in July 2019 due to a large amount of platypuses and rakali being killed in the traps.
Mr Crook also stressed the importance of educating the public on what fishing equipment is legal and said there were plenty of other legal alternatives to opera house nets.
“There are other nets out there that do the same job in collecting yabbies but won’t have the potential to kill the platypus and the water rats,” Mr Crook said.
Fishers can ensure their equipment is legal by checking the VFA website at vfa.vic.gov.au or getting a free recreational fishing guide from a local tackle shop.
Wildlife-friendly open top lift nets help reduce the risk to turtles, platypus and rakali and are widely available from tackle shops and outdoor retailers.
A Conservation Regulator spokesperson said it was seeking information surrounding the incident.
“Illegally set nets and traps in Victorian waterways are a threat to native wildlife including turtles, platypus and rakali. These animals are vulnerable to unattended traps and nets due to their underwater foraging behaviour, causing them to unknowingly enter traps which prevent them from escaping.”
In May the Star Mail reported on a dead platypus killed by an abandoned hoop nest in the Yarra River in East Warburton.
If you see or suspect illegal fishing, including the use of illegal or abandoned nets, please call 13FISH (133474), while anyone with information relating to this specific incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
