Fishing gear

​This picture is from earlier this week. The photographer Em saw three dusky whalers in one dive and all of them had fishing gear attached to them - hooks, swivels and lines.
This picture is taken at Cabbage Tree Bay which is an aquatic reserve that covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. The objectives of this reserve is to: conserve the biodiversity of fish and marine vegetation, protect fish habitat, facilitate educational activities and to facilitate scientific research. More than 160 species of fish and approximately 50 species of marine invertebrates have been recorded in the Reserve. This is a 'no take' Aquatic Reserve, which means you are not permitted to fish by any method, harm marine animals or plants, or collect marine organisms whether dead or alive (including empty shells as they provide homes for living organisms).
We've never had a clean up where we haven't found any fishing gear. Around 640,000 tonnes of fishing equipment are left in oceans annually. Discarded fishing equipment can remain in the oceans for up to 600 years.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #fishinggear #fishing #beachcleanup #cabbagetreebay #loveManly #sharks
Pic: Em @chasingsummer03