Homo Horrendous by Hugh Chittenden

An Appeal to fishermen to act more responsibly. The following set of photos graphically illustrates some of the worst traits in humans, and I for one hang my head in shame at our irresponsibility, and the knockon effects to wildlife that we profess to care for. How have we become insensitive to our surroundings? In this case, the blame for discarded fishing line lies squarely at the feet of fishermen.

All the photos below show fishing line injuries to three separate Woolly-necked Storks. Stork Nos 1 & 2 photographed at Albert Falls Dam near Pietermaritzburg ( March, 2019),and Stork No 3, photographed at Mtunzini, June, 2014.

Not all fishermen behave irresponsibly of course, I have friends who are keen fishermen & I know they act very responsibly and would never discard a single matchstick at the water's edge, let alone bunches of discarded fishing line. Sadly however, and judging by the amount of fishing line that one sees lying around on the margins of dams and along beaches, the majority of fishermen seem to have no concern for the way they litter!

Stork No 1, with the right foot showing stump-end & loss of toes from a previous (healed) fishing line injury. Left foot now undergoing similar constriction and potential further loss of toes.

Stork No 1, with the right foot showing stump-end & loss of toes from a previous (healed) fishing line injury. Left foot now undergoing similar constriction and potential further loss of toes.

Stork No 1 in flight..

A woolly-necked Stork on the edge of Albert Falls Dam, completely oblivious to the danger of fishing line just one meter behind where it is standing!

Finally, in November of 2015, a Palm-nut Vulture, was photographed at Mtunzini with fishing line attached to its one foot. The insert (below) shows one toe badly swollen and would have in all probobility lost that extremity shortly after this photograph was taken!

Msinsi Holdings manage the Albert Falls and do a good job of running these facilities.

However, there should be more accountability with not only keeping water margins clean of debris, but also signage to alert and educate fishermen re the dangers of items such as discarded fishing line.

Fishermen are urged to act more responsibly, both along coastal shore lines and at inland fishing sites.

Be responsible with your used Mono and Flourocarbon line. Get yourself one of these at R130 and do your part in preventing this happening.