To Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Primary Industries,
I was shocked to learn from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia that Queensland is still allowing the sale and use of enclosed yabby traps (aka “opera house nets”).
This style of fishing net is extremely dangerous to platypuses, who become ensnared and drown in the nets. These traps are used during the summer months, when female platypuses are foraging for food for their babies. If a mother is caught in a trap, her young will starve to death.
More than 40% of recorded platypus deaths in Victoria between 1980 and 2009 were from drowning in fishing nets or traps. Thankfully, Victoria and New South Wales have now both banned the sale and use of these abominable traps – it’s time for Queensland to do the same.
More than 200,000 of these traps are purchased in Queensland every year, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Meanwhile, research from the University of Queensland has found that platypus populations have disappeared from five locations around southeastern areas of the state.
Please help platypuses and ensure these nets are banned as a matter of priority.
Sincerely,
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