Disgusting litter problem at Melbourne beaches

Local beach patrol groups are calling for this “very irresponsible” group to clean up its act as this disgusting problem becomes worse.

Ross Headifen, President of Beach Patrol Australia, and volunteers with rubbish collected from Princes Pier. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A shocking amount of fishing waste is piling up along Melbourne piers as local beach patrol groups call for “irresponsible” fishers to clean up their act.

So far this year clean up crews have come across a whopping 5,646 fishing waste items – such as discarded fishing lines and hooks – scattered along piers across Melbourne.

Ramona and Ross Headifen lead the Port Melbourne Beach Patrol group and say the fishing litter remains a huge problem.

Fishing waste made up “5 to 10 per cent” of overall waste collected by beach patrols and had a lasting impact on the marine ecosystem, Mr Headifen said.

Just some of the 5646 fishing waste items crews have collected.

“Fishing lines, lures, bait, bait bags, lunch bags, lunch items, and they stuff them into the cracks of the piers or into the rock groynes,” he said.

“By far the bulk of it is plastic litter. In terms of hazard to marine life, it’s by far the worst.”

Ms Headifen said “every single pier in Melbourne” had been “heavily trashed”.

She said single-use plastic and fishing lures were her main concern.

“They (fishers) are a very ­irresponsible group,” she said.

“Considering they are trying to get fish from the body of water right next to them, they don’t seem to be looking after it at all.

“This rubbish then ends up in the water; beach patrol, when we are there, we clean it up, but we are only there once a month.”

With bins put in place by local councils near fishing points, Ms Headifen said there was no excuse for fishers.

Volunteers attempt to clear the litter.

Bait bags collected from Port Melbourne beach.

Victorian National Parks Association nature conservation campaigner Shannon Hurley said fishing hooks and lines that were left lying around often resulted in harm to wildlife.

“Fish, rays and seabirds can become tangled in lines and hooks that end up in the water,” she said.

“Seabirds can mistake the gear for food or use it as nesting material, resulting in harm to the chicks and adults.”

Port Phillip Mayor Marcus Pearl commended the group for its efforts in addressing the “unsightly fishing waste”.

“The Victorian Fisheries Authority is well placed to undertake education as its website is a great ‘one-stop shop’ for people seeking fishing information,” Mr Pearl said.

“Ultimately, however, it’s the responsibility of people ­enjoying a spot of fishing in our beautiful city to ensure they dispose of their waste properly.”