Riga clears Māras Pond of fishing line dangerous to waterbirds

Riga municipality has removed discarded fishing gear and other hazards from the shoreline and bed of Māras Pond, which could endanger swans and other waterbirds, LSM reported.

The cleanup recovered fishing line, hooks, lures and weights, as well as feeders, other metal objects and rubbish. The pond was also checked for abandoned nets and fish traps.

Workers carried out the cleanup in three rounds, revisiting the pond bed, shoreline and areas where fishing is most common. They also removed lines and lures caught in branches in or over the water.

To minimise disturbance to birds living at the pond, the work was done from a rowing boat without a motor. Special equipment fitted with neodymium magnets was used to find metal objects on the pond bed.

The municipality urged anglers to collect their lines, hooks and other gear after fishing and not leave them in the water or on the shore. Even a short piece of fishing line can wrap around a bird’s legs, wings or neck and seriously threaten its health and life.