Protecting our marine life from harmful TAnglers

Want to know how you can help install more TAngler bins in your neighbourhood?

 

Conservation Volunteers Australia’s Nature Ambassadors, with the support of local councils all around Australia, are responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of fishing tackle TAngler bins like the one you likely scanned to land on this page.

 

You can be a Nature Ambassador, too

 

Nature Ambassadors are Conservation Volunteers who take action to address litter pollution such as fishing tackle by working with communities to reduce plastic at the source.

 

CVA Nature Ambassadors are passionate about protecting our precious marine ecosystems with their community. Nature Ambassadors take action on plastic pollution by dealing with it through source reduction, and proper disposal of fishing tackle and other plastic waste in our community.

 

 

How do I get involved?

 

Apply to become a Nature Ambassador today

Learn more about the Nature Ambassadors program

Join us for a local beach clean up

 

 

The importance of TAngler bins

As you know, your old fishing line and tackle belong in the bin, not the sea.

Discarded fishing equipment such as hooks, weights and lines are the deadliest type of ocean litter due to their strength and durability. Fishing litter causes injury and death to thousands of marine animals every year. Sea birds, seals, turtles, dolphins and whales can all be seriously injured or die if they become entangled in a line or ingest hooks.

TAngler Bins, developed by Ocean Watch Australia, help to recover lost recreational fishing line and tackle that litters fishing hotspots nationally. CVA Nature Ambassadors, as part of our #SeaToSource project, have been involved in the installation, maintenance and monitoring of this TAngler Bin, and others just like it all across Australia.

Since 2006, more than 350 TAngler bins have been installed in key coastal locations across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria where littered fishing line is most prevalent.

This TAngler bin is part of a national project run by Conservation Volunteers Australia called #SeaToSource. #SeaToSource is a project supported through funding from the Australian Government, a three-year initiative that aims to reduce the amount of plastic litter that reaches our creeks, rivers and oceans.

 

How can I help?

Please contact our SeaToSource team if you are a recreational fisher and would like to help increase community awareness of this issue in your community, and take action with us by monitoring and emptying this TAngler bin.

 

What does responsible fishing look like?

1. Remove and dispose of all your waste – that’s what the TAngler Bin is here for. It only takes a little effort, but it makes a big difference.

2. Attend to your line regularly – check any set traps or hoop nets and avoid known feeding and breeding areas of birds, turtles or platypus.

3. Talk to your local outdoors and fishing shop about plastic-free fishing alternatives – e.g., wooden lures sourced from sustainable timber with non-toxic paint are a good alternative. However, beware of anything labelled ‘biodegradable’ or ‘eco’ as these will still contain plastic and will only break up into smaller plastic bits (microplastics). 

4. If you hook or find an injured bird, loosely wrap the bird in a towel and place it in a container if you have one (e.g., a bucket). Do not cut the line or release the bird if the hook has been swallowed or embedded. Call Australian Sea Bird Rescue for advice and/or take it to your nearest vet.

 

 

 

 

#SeaToSource is a project supported through funding from the Australian Government.