Editor
I WAS saddened by the report on the stork death as a result of discarded fishing line. I walk around the area at least once or twice a week, pick up any discarded line and try to dispose of it safely. Sometimes the line has hooks attached.
However I must express my frustration at the lack of interest displayed by the staff employed at the eThekwini green corridor office at the Blue Lagoon/yacht pond. They bicycle and sit around the area, but I have never seen them approach any fishermen/women/child who has blatantly discarded line, left their empty bait boxes lying around or thrown trash in the river – or seen the staff themselves bend down and pick up line that has been discarded.
There does not appear to be any effective supervision or initiative. The rubbish collectors also fail to pick up discarded line. The worst areas are the end of the new area at Blue Lagoon, and under the bridges.
Fishermen should be given a warning and then for a second offence, fined. Parents should be asked to take responsibility for their children’s littering. This is a beautiful area for recreation and enjoying the bird life and greenery but sadly some users do not have any long term vision of the impact of their careless behaviour.
Joan van Niekerk
Durban North
