A recent discovery of four dead platypus and a native water rat, or rakali, in a single “opera” style trap in Dorrigo, on the north coast of NSW, has prompted further action to eliminate its use. of the deadly apparatuses.
Key points:
- The traps of the opera lure the yabbies to the wire mesh structure with bait
- Amphibious wildlife, such as platypus, rakali and turtles, is often attracted to trapped crustaceans.
- Trapping has been banned throughout NSW for over a year
Warning: This story contains images that readers may find distressing.
The opera’s traps, christened by the resemblance to the sails of Sydney’s iconic structure, have been illegal on the east coast of NSW for almost 20 years and have been banned throughout the state since April last year.
Traps lure yabbies to the bait wire mesh structure.
Designed to provide no way out for yabbies, traps, in turn, have a deadly effect on any air-breathing aquatic wildlife, such as platypus, rakali, and turtles, which are attracted to captured crustaceans.
Four platypus and a rakali were found dead inside an illegal opera trap in Dorrigo, NSW. (Provided by: Piers Hammick)
This was the scene that Dangarra Landcare volunteer Piers Hammick faced in Dorrigo earlier this month, finding platypus and rakali in what he described as a “death-filled net”.
“It only takes about three minutes before a platypus or a rakali can run out of air and drown in a trap.”
Earlier this year, a platypus was also found dead in a home-style opera trap at Logans Crossing, inside Port Macquarie.
Platypus Conservancy Foundation biologist Geoff Williams says “there is no excuse these days for people who use these deadly traps” given the availability of open alternatives that are conducive to wildlife.
“The ban has been very effective in reducing deaths, but that’s why this is the case [in Dorrigo] it is especially distressing.
“A year later we are discovering that people are still using them and that they are suffering from this incredibly heavy toll on platypus populations.”
The number of platypus decreases
Williams said the impact of opera traps and other types of closed networks is well documented, with a Victorian study tracking platypus mortality between 1980 and 2009 finding that the 56 % of deaths were caused by drowning in illegal networks.
Geoff Williams says every platypus death affects the population’s ability to recover from environmental disasters.
“If you remove four platypus from the population at once, you can make a big hole in the population,” Williams said.
“If you eliminate breeding females or juveniles, quickly make a dent that adds to this slow slip in numbers of platypus.”
Williams said platypus is also often found dead strangled by hair ties, rubber bands, released balloons, other fishing gear and general plastic pollution.
“Platypus populations across NSW are under pressure … and we need to make sure they have time to recover from events like fires and floods.”
Platypus continue to be found dead in illegal jabby traps even though the statewide ban went into effect in April 2021. (Supplied by: Piers Hammick)
Concern that some retailers are still storing illegal traps
While the use of opera traps is banned in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, other states have been slower, with several fishing gear suppliers still selling deadly devices.
Williams says it is “extremely disappointing” that some retailers continue to advertise them as legal across Australia.
“It is a peculiarity of our laws that, although it is illegal to use traps, it is not lawful to sell them.”
Two dead rakali discovered in an illegal trap at an opera house in Crowther earlier this year. (Supplied by: Australian Platypus Conservancy)
Penalties for using cheating in NSW range from a $ 500 fine to up to 12 months in prison for a second or subsequent felony.
Increase preventive measures
Jim Harnwell, leader of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) fishing program, said amateur anglers, especially on the east coast of the state, should know better, as the traps are ill For almost two decades.
“They were a very common device, readily available, and a pretty effective tool for capturing iabby, so a lot of people probably had them in the back shed,” Harnwell said.
Last year, the DPI gave away 5,000 open pyramid-style traps to help with the transition from opera traps and is now launching new warning messages to educate people about the ban.
A local DPI fishing officer erected this sign at Logans Crossing after a “opera” -style homemade trap drowned a platypus. (Supplied by: NSW DPI)
“When we have an incident with someone using one of these traps, our compliance team will come in and place one of these signs, so that if the culprit returns, they will be able to see the sign and realize that they have no permission to use them. “
The department is also encouraging people to “actively fish” and not leave jabby nets sitting on waterways for long periods of time so that they can find and release any unwanted bycatch.
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Posted 12 hours 12 hours ago Wednesday 25 May 2022 at 06:51, updated 10 hours ago Wednesday 25 May 2022 at 08:37