Folks - thanks to all of you who have supported this campaign to date. Below I've reproduced our recent media release which relates good news in that all 10 dedicated tackle/outdoor stores in the ACT and Queanbeyan, when approached, were more than happy to be involved in the education campaign. All are now displaying a poster warning of the dangers these traps pose and we've also provided them all with a hand-out postcard which summarises the rules and regulations about their use in the ACT and surrounding NSW. Thanks to ACT Parks for their input to this, Tackle World for taking the lead and BCF Tuggeranong for inviting me to speak about this issue at their recent club members night. However, of continuing concern are the on-line sellers and some big chain stores that sell these traps as well. Unlike the tackle and outdoor stores, where people get verbal advice (and now a postcard to reinforce the messages) at point of sale it seems no such advice is provided to on-line or chain store buyers and this is where we need action at the political level.
Canberra retailers happy to be part of yabby trap campaign – but big challenges remain
After the recent launch of its campaign to reduce wildlife mortalities due to the use of Opera-house style yabby traps in and around the ACT, RiverSmart is pleased to report that all ten dedicated fishing and outdoor stores in the ACT and Queanbeyan have agreed to be part of its education campaign.
Dr Bill Phillips, CEO or RiverSmart commented, 'We've now visited all of these outlets and without exception they were happy to display our rather graphic poster (attached) and have the information postcards we've produced available on the counter or close to the actual traps. This is one step in the process."
The information postcards explain that the use of any enclosed form of yabby trap is prohibited in the open waters of the ACT and surrounding NSW and also the risks they pose for air breathing fauna such as platypus, turtles, water rats and diving birds.
RiverSmart's on-line petition has 154 signatures presently and it's hoped to get more than double this number by the end of the month, when it will be forwarded to ACT Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell and his NSW counterpart. Go to www.riversmart.org.au to find the link.
'While the reaction of the over-the-counter retailers to this initiative is commendable there remains the challenge of what to do about on-line sellers and we're also now seeing some of the bigger chain stores starting to stock these items. Unlike in the specialist stores, in these situations it seems no-one is advising purchasers of the restrictions which apply and that's a major concern,' said Dr Phillips.
