Action urged after Port River dolphin seen in tangled in fishing line

A dolphin was spotted this week in the Port River with a fishing hook and line stuck in his dorsal fin, raising fears more could fall victim and calls for more places to dispose of fishing line.

A dolphin has been spotted in the Port River with a fishing hook and line stuck in his dorsal fin, raising fears more could fall victim.

It has sparked calls for increased vigilance from recreational fisherman and more bins along the river for people to dispose of broken lines.

Photos of the dolphin named Marianna, posted to the Official Port River Dolphin Watch Facebook group this week, showed the creature frolicking alongside a boat with the line tangled around his fin.

He was spotted again today without the hook and line, prompting much relief from concerned dolphin spotters.

Dolphin Marianna in the Port River with fishing line on his dorsal fin. Photo: Marianna Boorman

They were worried Marianna could have lost the top of his fin if the line was not removed.

Local dolphin spotter Marianna Boorman — for whom the dolphin is named — said the fishing line was cutting into his fin.

“Fortunately it was only around the top of his fin and the hook was dangling near the top as well,” Ms Boorman said.

“Fortunately it didn’t appear to be attached to his tail or anywhere else around him.

“I guess the main thing is that we encourage people to take their fishing lines home with them of dispose of them appropriately. It’s not just dolphins, but all marine life who suffer.”

Port River dolphin spotter Marianna Boorman. Photo: AAP/Roy Vandervegt

She called for people to reel in their lines if they saw dolphins around where they were fishing.

Fellow spotter Sharon Sharp called on Port Adelaide Enfield Council to install fishing line disposal points under the Department of Environment “hook, line and thinker” scheme.

She said it would reduce fishing related problems “for certain”.

“Back in 2015 when I heard about the program, that’s when I originally brought it up … and they were implementing it in some councils but there wasn’t a budget for Port Adelaide,” Ms Sharp said.

Dolphin Marianna in the Port River free of fishing line on his dorsal fin. Photo: Marianna Boorman

“In December, I revisited it just to see how things were going and (the government) had been in discussions but the council hasn’t changed on the project.”

She understood council staff would have further discussions and try to find future funding for the bins.

Recent dolphin autopsies had found an increase in fishing hooks and lines in stomachs.