An estimated 10 kilometres of discarded fishing line has been removed from the Gold Coast Seaway, with a diving group calling for a pause on recreational fishing in the area so it can rejuvenate.
More than 40 divers pulled the debris from a popular recreational spot at The Spit during a clean-up event over the weekend.
"It's pretty horrifying to be removing that from the environment," Sea Shepherd marine debris campaigner Grahame Lloyd said.
"We removed as much as we could in a time frame."
Better 'self-regulation' required
Mr Lloyd said it had been an ongoing problem in the area, with about 4.5 kilometres of fishing line pulled out of the seaway during a smaller clean-up during November.
"There's risk to marine animals," he said.
"I'm sure that the majority of fishermen are not responsible but they just need to self-regulate and pull up people who are leaving this fishing line sitting around."
Fisher numbers 'not limited'
A spokesperson for the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) said specially designed tackle and fishing line bins were installed in the area in 2017.
"[GCWA] doesn't limit the number of people, including fishermen, in Doug Jennings Park and on the Seaway Promenade as these are community spaces," the spokesperson said.
"We encourage people to use these areas responsibly and make sure they leave them clean."
Calls to pause fishing
Volunteer group Environmental Divers retrieved about 8 kilograms of discarded fishing line, hooks, rods, and other debris from the seaway during the clean-up.
President Peter White said the rocky environment meant it was easy for fishers to get snagged and "every time they snap their line off, they're losing between 30 and 50 metres of fishing line".
He said recreational fishing in the area should be paused to give the environment time to recover and "rejuvenate".
"We're going to let the divers get on with it, clean it up, and get rid of all the fishing line," Mr White said.
"Fishing techniques are never really going to change enough.
"There's always going to be fishing line down there."
While GCWA ruled out any restrictions to recreational fishing, the spokesperson said it was open to partnering with community clean up efforts.
"GCWA is open for discussions and partnerships with community and volunteer groups that help keep the waterways clean and protect the marine life."
'Spider webs' underwater
Mr White said the problem had been "getting worse" since he started scuba diving in 1990.
"I can't remember that amount of fishing line [being] there, and it's only really been in the past five years that we've started doing clean-ups there because I noticed how much fishing line there was," he said.
"Every time we go there we still remove the same amount — if not more.
He said even if visibility was good, people would not see the fishing line and could become entangled in it.
"And then you just continue to wind yourself up and get more and more entangled," Mr White said.
