News

Fishing nets take their toll

In a bid to save endangered marine life, the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit have joined in conservation efforts on remote northern Australian beaches, to rescue and rehabilitate the victims of marine debris.

Australia Zoo Rescue Unit coordinator Brian Coulter and team member Kate Winter travelled to far north Queensland and assisted in the conservation efforts of clearing marine debris from beaches, and assisting local rangers with wildlife rescues.

"Members of the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit were able to help out local rangers by patrolling beaches south of Weipa, and removing nets and other debris that had been washed ashore," said Brian.

"It was concerning to see the amount of marine debris that was both washed up and that had wildlife entangled in it."

Marine debris poses a huge threat to marine wildlife around the world. Plastic containers, shipping equipment and general rubbish, with discarded fishing nets, known as ghost nets, pose a significant threat to wildlife due to their ability to capture and entangle marine wildlife.

"We surveyed an area of beach around about 30km long, and counted about 137 ghost nets on the beach and water's edge," said Brian.

"Ghost nets are blown from above northern Australia by the north westerly monsoon, with Flatback, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtles being the most common marine wildlife in this area to suffer severe injuries or drown as a result of these entanglements."

"Land and sea rangers from Mapoon and Napranum were able to rescue many critically endangered Olive Ridley and Flatback Turtles, which had been entangled."

"With thanks to Qantas, we were able to fly five of these guys back for specialised treatment."

One Flatback and four Olive Ridley turtles all required surgery due to injuries sustained from entanglements, and are receiving treatment at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors - Australian Wildlife Hospital. The turtles will be rehabilitated at Australia Zoo prior to being released.

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit have experienced the effects of marine debris closer to home, having received over 180 calls to tend to sea turtle rescues in 2009, with 17 of these involving fishing gear entanglements.

The Rescue Unit is involved in ongoing turtle research, including the recent tracking of two turtles with amputations, Rafael the Loggerhead and Minka the Green Turtle, as a result of fishing gear entanglements.

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit operates out of Australia Zoo seven days a week, covering an area from the Sunshine Coast to north Brisbane, west to Kilcoy, and beyond.

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