A dramatic wildlife rescue on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula has highlighted the ongoing threat abandoned fishing tackle poses to coastal birds, after a cormorant was found entangled in fishing line with a hook embedded in its throat.
Emergency Response for Entangled Bird
The distressed bird was discovered at St Leonards boat ramp by concerned locals who immediately contacted wildlife rescuers. Marine Response, a dedicated wildlife rescue service, attended the scene and successfully captured the cormorant after it had been struggling in the water with visible fishing line trailing from its body.
Rescuers found the situation more serious than initially apparent. The fishing line was wrapped around the bird's wings, severely restricting its movement, while a fishing hook was deeply embedded in its throat. The entanglement would have prevented the bird from feeding properly and likely led to a slow, painful death without intervention.
Successful Treatment and Recovery
The cormorant was transported to a local veterinarian for emergency treatment. Veterinary staff carefully removed the embedded hook and untangled the fishing line from the bird's wings and throat. Following the procedure, the bird was placed in professional care to recover from the ordeal.
After several days of rehabilitation and observation, the cormorant made a full recovery and was successfully released back into its natural habitat at St Leonards, where it quickly returned to the water and resumed normal behavior.
Growing Problem of Fishing Debris
This incident is not isolated, with wildlife rescuers reporting numerous similar cases along the Bellarine Peninsula and throughout Port Phillip Bay. Abandoned fishing tackle represents a significant threat to marine wildlife, particularly birds that mistake fishing lines for seaweed or become entangled while diving for fish.
Fishing line can take hundreds of years to decompose, creating long-term hazards for marine animals. Hooks can cause internal injuries and prevent feeding, while entangled line restricts movement and can lead to drowning or starvation.
Local conservation groups are urging anglers to be more responsible with their fishing gear. Simple measures like properly disposing of fishing line in designated bins, retrieving snagged tackle when possible, and using environmentally friendly alternatives can significantly reduce wildlife casualties.
The successful rescue serves as both a warning about the consequences of discarded fishing equipment and an inspiration for community action to protect Victoria's precious marine wildlife.
