Illegal net kills fish and platypus

12:00a.m. 9th October 2008
By Mark Bode
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/09/illegal-net-kills-fish-and-platypus/

Right: One of the disturbing photos showing the platypus entangled in a gillnet at Obi Obi Creek.

A sickening act of illegal netting at Obi Obi Creek, near Kenilworth, has killed a platypus and scores of fish. Disturbing photos supplied to the Daily show the platypus entangled in the gillnet, which had been strung across the river 200 metres from the mouth. “It killed just about everything that came across it,” said John, who stumbled upon the ghastly scene at the platypus habitat while kayaking last Friday afternoon. John, who wants his identity protected for fear of retaliation, was so outraged that he contacted the Environmental Protection Agency.

However, both he and the EPA hold little hope of finding the culprits. John estimates the net had been there two or three days before he found it. “I think whoever did it saw the platypus and thought, ‘I’m in trouble’, and just left it,” he said. With half the net still in the water, John said his main concern was untangling the live fish. He said 12 of 20 catfish caught in the net were dead while four Australian bass and two freshwater mullet were also killed. A lungfish had been scaled on the bank.

“It’s illegal to use a gillnet in a freshwater river in Queensland,” John said. “I’m totally disgusted. I was so upset when I found the platypus I was shaking.” John fears endangered Mary River cod were also caught. He said a sign letting people know the cod were in the area was missing. “One of them could have been in there,” he said. “Who knows what was in there?” John has being kayaking on the river for years and often sees platypus, turtles and lungfish.
“I’ve never seen a net like that on the river before,” he said.