CHOWDER Bay’s precious marine life, which includes seahorses, anglerfish and decorator crabs, is under threat from “careless litterbugs” who fail to clean up their rubbish, scuba diver Jayne Jenkins said.
Ms Jenkins photographed two dead moray eels entwined in fishing tackle and pierced by hooks at Chowder Bay earlier this month.
She also removed a hook from the head of an adult eel and saw an octopus wedged between a cigarette packet and a beer bottle.
“It’s getting worse – there’s definitely more rubbish strewn about beneath the surface,” Ms Jenkins said.
“Chowder Bay is home to unique marine life – it’s shocking people can be so thoughtless and ignorant about the damage their litter is causing.”
On February 5 – when Sydney’s mercury hit 42.2C – Ms Jenkins said about 100 fishermen flocked to the Clifton Gardens jetty, which neighbours Chowder Bay. She said many carried more than two rods, as well as plastic bags and drink packages.
There are bins at the end of the jetty and in Clifton Gardens, but litter is often left unattended and it blows into the water, Ms Jenkins said.
“I have no objection to fishermen but they must follow the guidelines,” she said. “Many go down there without a fishing licence. “Because of careless litterbugs we have seen the population of moray eels reduced from at least eight to only two after the very hot weekend.”
Ms Jenkins, who dives off the Chowder Bay jetty up to four times a week, said the most common items of rubbish were nylon fishing line, bottle tops, cigarette butts, plastic bags, glass bottles and cans.
A diver from Plunge Diving at Chowder Bay, which organises regular underwater clean-ups, said the team recently hauled about 45kg of nylon tackle from the ocean floor.
Council rangers visit Clifton Gardens every day to monitor the carpark and each night between 7pm and 10pm.
Head ranger Colin DeCosta said fines for littering ranged from $60 for an extinguished cigarette to $200 for larger items such as a bag.
Fisheries officers also regularly patrol the area at night and during the day but could not be there “at all times”, an Industry and Investment NSW spokesman said. The spokesman encouraged people to come forward with information on illegal fishing activity.
THE RULES OF FISHING OUR WATERS:
* A NSW recreational fishing fee is required and you must carry a receipt of payment.
* A NSW fishing licence will cost $6 for three days, $12 for one month, $30 for one year or $75 for three years.
* The on-the-spot fine for not paying the fee is $200. There is a $75 fine for failure to immediately produce the receipt.
* A maximum of four rods or handlines is permitted per person, and a maximum of three hooks or three gangs of hooks is permitted per line.
* Anyone who witnesses illegal fishing activity should report it to the Fishers Watch Phone Line on 1800 043 536.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bacino Cafe at Chowder Bay is encouraging patrons to get their coffee fix in reusable cups in a move to reduce litter.
Patrons can either buy a silicone cup from Bacino’s and personalise it with their name and order or they can bring along their own mug.
Customers won’t have to pay extra for a double shot if they bring their own cup along, and they can choose to either keep cups at the cafe for next time or take them home.
Bacino started promoting the environmentally-friendly measure this year, after littering in the nearby park was brought to the owner’s attention.
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Tobago Holidays:
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