General News
6 March, 2026
Anglers encouraged to use bins
IT doesn’t know it, but a spoonbill living at the mouth of the Merri River has become an unlikely reason that other birds may be safer in the years ahead.
Six new fishing line and hook disposal bins have been installed at popular angling spots on the Merri River.
The bins are provided by Zoos Victoria as part of its Seal the Loop program, which helps stop fishing line and hooks from ending up in waterways.
The catalyst came when South Warrnambool resident Sally McConnell noticed a spoonbill near Edwards Bridge was tangled in fishing line.
“I’d been taking his photo for a few weeks and I came down one day and here he was, caught up in fishing line,” she said.
With help from her husband Keith and neighbour James, the spoonbill was caught and taken to a vet.
“He was freezing cold. He wasn’t going to have long to live,” Mrs McConnell said.
“We got him before there was any damage to his wings, so after a couple of days he was able to be released and you can still see him down here.”
With assistance from the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network, the trio were founding members of the Friends of the Lower Merri in late 2025.
One of the group’s activities is working with Warrnambool City Council and Fishcare Victoria to help manage the new bins.
Warrnambool City Council natural environment officer Kristy Roche said discarded fishing line and hooks can pose a serious risk to wildlife.
“We’re a city framed by two rivers and the ocean, so fishing is a very popular pastime with locals and with visitors,” she said.
“We’ve had fishing line and hook disposal bins in Warrnambool for a while now, and they’re really well used, so we hope that by rolling them out to more areas we can continue to cut down on hooks and fishing line entering our waterways.
“The bins are good to have, but ultimately it comes down to personal responsibility. If you’re fishing somewhere without a bin handy, please hold onto your line and hooks and dispose of them properly later.
“Hooks can be easily swallowed, and as we saw recently with the spoonbill, off-cuts can entangle birds.”
As well as spoonbills, the Merri River is home to over 80 species of birds, with the wetlands at the mouth of the river an especially popular resting place for migratory birds.
Rakali (native water rats) also live near the mouth of the river, while platypuses live just upstream.
The new bins are located at the north, middle and lower Merri River pontoons, on Edwards Bridge, opposite the skate park and near the Stanley Street playground.
This new installation brings the total number of fishing line and hook bins in Warrnambool to 15, with existing bins also located on the Hopkins River and in the Port of Warrnambool.
Find out more about Seal the Loop visit www.zoo.org.au/seal-the-loop
