Fishing gear injuring dingoes on K’gari, warns Environment Department

Fishing equipment is causing serious injuries to dingoes on a popular island paradise, prompting the state government to give an urgent warning.

Fishing equipment is causing serious injuries to dingoes on K’gari.

K’gari rangers have needed to track dingoes and remove fishing hooks and lures from their mouths.

The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation is receiving regular reports about dingoes being snagged by hooks and lures or becoming tangled in fishing line.

Senior ranger Linda Behrendorff said K’gari was world-famous for its fishing and attracted thousands of hopeful anglers each year.

“We’re asking every fisher who comes to K’gari to Be dingo-safe! at all times and to be vigilant with their fishing equipment,” Dr Behrendorff said.

“Dingoes are extremely intelligent and curious, and they will approach or sit nearby fishers on the beach in hope of getting a free feed, which can include chasing your catch as you reel it in.

“Rangers know most fishers do the right thing by chasing them away and properly discarding unused bait and fish frames by burying them at least 50 centimetres or knee-deep in the sand.

“Unfortunately, rangers have noticed that dingoes are accessing bait and fish frames that have not been properly buried deeply in the sand.

Rangers are having to treat dingoes infections after they’ve been hooked by fishing gear.

Dr Behrendorff said dingoes are getting hooked through their scavenging, sometimes hours after fishers have packed up for the day.

“Fishers need to remove all bait from their hooks when they are not in use because the smell of baited hooks can attract dingoes into camping areas and to parked vehicles.

When the dingoes bite for the bait, they are getting a hook stuck in their lips or jaws.

“Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service are having to track and sedate dingoes to remove hooks and lures and fishing line.

“We also have reports about birds getting hooked, so we’re asking all fishers to retrieve broken line where possible, remove all bait from hooks when packing up and dispose of all unwanted bait and fish frames properly,” Dr Behrendorff said.

Report all wildlife entanglements with fishing equipment to rangers by phoning 4127 9150 or emailing [e-mail] as soon as possible.

Originally published as Fishing gear injuring dingoes on K’gari, warns Environment Department