The NSW Government and Central Coast Council are asking residents to remove old fishing lines and nets following the recent death and injury of endangered birds.
A threatened shorebird recently died from injuries and emaciation after volunteers found it wandering around The Entrance with its feet entangled by fishing net.
It was the only known fledged pied oystercatcher chick in the whole of the Central Coast local government area this Summer.
A bar-tailed godwit – also a threatened species – was seen hobbling with fishing line around its legs last month, so Government staff and volunteers successfully disentangled it.
The bird was spotted again last week, having noticeably put on weight, and was flying strongly.
Another 60 birds were treated by Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast (MWRCC) in the past year with fishing line or hook injuries.
Birds with fishing line or net restricting their feet or wings can be difficult to capture until they are seriously weakened from lack of food.
Entanglement can lead to horrific injuries, lost limbs, or a slow, agonising death.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to take away all rubbish at the end of a day at the beach or on the water and pick up any litter or discarded fishing gear nearby.
Wildlife volunteers, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Central Coast Council are working together to save entangled birds.
Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said it was heartening to see the community pull together to try to save the birds and thanked everyone involved.
“Everyone has a role to play in protecting the great natural environment on the Coast and particularly saving our threatened species,” he said.
“Picking up any fishing line or marine debris you see lying around is a small thing that makes a huge difference.”
Central Coast Council Acting Director Environment and Planning Luke Sulkowski said the issue was a serious problem for birds and other wildlife, in particular shorebirds.
“We urge everyone to practice safe and responsible fishing, which means keeping a close eye on your fishing gear and taking any discarded rubbish and fishing tackle with you when you leave your fishing spot, so that wildlife cannot become entangled,” he said.
“Every effort should also be made to retrieve snagged or snapped fishing line.
Administrator Rik Hart said Council has multiple signs at fishing locations which set out size and bag limits for various fish species, and which also remind the community to take their rubbish home with them or put in bins provided.