Reel it In would not be possible without the support of our project partners.

Thanks to recently securing a Recfishwest grant through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Reel it in is now actively expanding to tackle fishing waste at popular coastal fishing locations. Reel it in bins have recently been installed in Lancelin, Two Rocks, Mindarie, Hillarys, Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany and Esperance. These bins complement those already installed at the North and South moles (Fremantle Port), popular fishing locations on Rottnest Island and in Shoalwater Marine Park and Cockburn Sound.

Native Animal Rescue (NAR) work hard to rehabilitate and care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. We partnered with the team from NAR to audit the contents of the fishing line bins, so we could get a better understanding of the impact the project is having at reducing fishing related waste in our waterways. We are so grateful to Carolyn from NAR, who emptied and audited the bins in the Riverpark every three months between 2020-2022. You can read more about the findings from the audits here. As part of our partnership, NAR also help to empty the bins when we do not have other volunteers available.

Contents from the Point Walter fishing line bin

 

Western Australian Seabird Rescue (WASR) is a network of seabird and waterbird rescuers based in coastal south-western Australia who rescue and rehabilitate sick and injured waterbirds. Many waterbirds suffer horrific injuries from fishing line and other entanglements, and it is WASR volunteers who work tirelessly to locate and rescue these birds. We are proud to partner with WASR to help us empty the fishing line bins when other volunteers are unavailable.

 

Entangled Darter who was later rescued by WASR volunteers in South Perth. Photo by Veronica McPhail

Keep Australia Beautiful Council (KABC) provides leadership in the field of litter prevention and reduction in Western Australia. Through community awareness and engagement, education, legislation and enforcement strategies, KABC works to change the attitudes and behaviours of the community and strives for a litter-free WA.

The Department recognised the synergies between our Reel it in campaign and KABC’s Clean Marine campaign and we’ve been working together since 2013 to help remove fishing related litter from our marine and estuarine environments.

You can also help clean your favourite local wetland, river or ocean area by joining their ‘Adopt-a-Spot‘ program.