Malderen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A cormorant at the Vogelopvangcentrum in Malderen died after swallowing a large fishing hook. Van Aken warns that discarded fishing gear, especially nylon lines, severely harms birds. Fishermen should clean up to prevent suffering.
At the Vogelopvangcentrum in Malderen, a cormorant, a black water bird, came in with a fishing hook stuck in its beak. Despite the help, the bird did not survive. The hook caused serious injuries and a lot of pain. Van Aken mentioned that many birds suffer and die because of this. Wildlife rescue centres often see similar cases.
“Nylon thread is very sharp, so if this is around the legs of the birds, it can cause them to die and fall off, causing the birds to die,”
Says Van Aken.
Is abandoned fishing gear in Malderen a deadly threat to birds?
According to Van Aken , nylon fishing line is another danger for birds. It is often left behind on riverbanks. He said that it is strong and sharp. Birds can get tangled in it, especially around their legs. This can cut into their skin and stop blood flow.
He mentioned that as a result, birds may lose their feet or legs. This makes it hard for them to swim or find food. Many injured birds die from infections or hunger. Abandoned fishing gear is a serious threat to wildlife.
“The hook that this cormorant had swallowed was very large, which caused the bird to suffer before it died,”
Says Van Aken.
The Bird Shelter works hard to help injured birds, but they cannot hold fishermen responsible for their trash. They are asking fishermen to clean up after themselves. Van Aken said that if fishermen picked up their old fishing lines and hooks, it would stop a lot of animal suffering. He mentioned that cleaning up can greatly reduce the harm to birds and other water animals. If fishermen take responsibility, they can help protect the ecosystems they enjoy.
“We cannot do anything ourselves, but it would prevent a lot of animal suffering if fishermen would just clean up all their waste,”
Van Aken said.
