Fishing line recycling bins reel in success
To date about 15 bins can be found from Winklespruit to Doonside and Toti main beach.
Toti Conservancy has hailed its fishing line recycle bins a huge success, owing to local fishermen who are playing their part.
The conservancy’s Gill van Wyk introduced the bins to Toti beaches at the beginning of 2014 and received help with the project from local businesses, who sponsored them.
Often animals and birds become entangled in discarded fishing lines and die as a result, leading Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to endorse the bins.
READ: Seabirds count cost of baited hooks, litter on Amanzimtoti beaches
A bin at Hotel Rocks was vandalised at the weekend, but fishermen repaired it with cable ties, dug a hole for the pole and re-attached the bin to it.
To date about 15 bins can be found from Winklespruit to Doonside and Toti main beach, but there is space for more.
One Winklespruit fisherman, who fishes on Winkle beach almost daily said he hasn’t seen anyone use the bins.
“I think three separate bins, labelled for glass, paper and bait would be a better idea,” said Robert Phorie.
Gill however, said people are using them and the project is working well.
“We were pleasantly surprised by the positive response we received and it has created public awareness of how dangerous discarded fishing line can be.
Gill hopes to extend the project up to the Isipingo River.
To sponsor, contact Gill on 071-403-0320.
