Dangerous debris prompts warning

The Department of Parks and Wildlife has urged Shoalwater Islands Marine Park users and visitors to be on the lookout for dangerous marine debris after rangers pulled hundreds of metres of discarded line from the water.

Parks and Wildlife marine rangers pulled the dangerous debris from water surrounding the Mersey Point jetty, with Parks and Wildlife concerned about the damage the debris could cause to local marine life.

The marine park is home to several environmental spots including Penguin Island and Seal Island.

Marine park ranger Steve Goodlich said entanglement and ingestion were two main issues faced.

“Penguins, seals and whales are probably the most susceptible to entanglement from marine debris,” he said.

“They can’t get out of it themselves.

“If we get to them in time, hopefully we can help them out, but generally it’s a pretty slow and painful end for them.”

In addition to discarded line, rangers found plastics, bait bags and shopping bags.

According to Mr Goodlich, the discarded line had come from a variety of different sources.

“While this rope may have come from somewhere else, I wouldn’t say it’s malicious,” he said.

“Perhaps it’s more carelessness from certain individuals.

“You do see more marine debris washing up in winter when you get large weather events.

“We would like everyone to be conscious of their stuff and to look after it.

The presence of litter in the marine park becomes extra problematic in June, with the local penguin population in the peak of their breeding season.

“We are starting to see more and more eggs this month and we’ve actually had a few chicks hatch in the last couple of days,” Mr Goodlich said.

“The parents are going to be out in the marine park to feed, so marine debris is going to be a bit of a barrier to that.”

Parks and Wildlife urged residents to act if they saw anything dangerous in the area.