Appeal to fishermen to not discard fishing line.
The discovery of an entangled Water Thick-knee at the end of July 2025 on the beach at Mtunzini (KZN) has prompted me to once again appeal to fishermen to be careful and not to discard fishing line, or to at least pick up and remove any line that they may find on beaches or on waterside bodies. In the past 11 years I have found five different Woolly-necked Storks that have foot injuries or lost limbs from fishing line!
Since the article I wrote in 2019 on this very same subject, I have subsequently found more birds that have become entangled with fishing line.
Below: A Water-Thick-knee found at the end of July 2025 on Mtunzini beach. The following photos show the entangled bird and the necrotic foot.
Below: A rare Mangrove Kingfisher perched on fishing line and hooks etc. Not a pleasant sight!
Not all fishermen behave irresponsibly of course. I have friends who are keen fishermen and I know they act very responsibly and would never discard a single matchstick at the water’s edge, let alone bunches of fishing line. Sadly however, and judging by the amount of fishing line that one sees lying around on the margins of dams and along beaches, the majority of fishermen seem to have no concern for the way they litter!
In the past 11 years I have photographed 5 different Woolly-necked storks that have injured or lost limbs from fishing line left lying around at fishing sites. The first two incidents were at Albert Falls Dam near Pietermaritzburg (March, 2019), and Storks No 3, 4 and 5 were photographed at Mtunzini.
Below: Stork No 1 with left foot entangled in fishing line.
When storks become entangled in fishing line, the line often becomes tight, stopping the flow of blood, resulting in swelling and eventually foot or toe loss. This also means that the entangled birds can no longer roost on tree branches at night as they no longer have the capability to clasp onto the branch when the wind blows. Below: Stork No 1, with the right foot showing stump-end and loss of toes from a previous (healed) fishing line injury. Left foot now undergoing similar constriction and potential further loss of toes.
Below: Stork No 1 attempting to find aquatic prey along the shallow margins of Albert Falls Dam.
Below: Stork No 1 in flight.
Below: A woolly-necked Stork on the edge of Albert Falls Dam, completely oblivious to the danger of fishing line just one meter behind where it is standing.
Below: Stork No 2. Within minutes of photographing the first Woolly-necked Stork entangled with fishing line, a second bird was seen limping badly with a swollen toe dangling and about to fall off!
Below: Stork No 3. This bird, in obvious pain, was found limping badly at the edge of the Umlalazi Lagoon, Mtunzini.
Below: Stork No 4. A Woolly-necked Stork also at the edge of the Umlalazi Lagoon, Mtunzini.
Below: Stork No 5 was caught, treated and released at Mtunzini in September 2024.
In November 2015, a Palm-nut Vulture, was photographed at Mtunzini with fishing line attached to its one foot. The insert (below) shows one toe badly swollen and this bird would have in all probability lost that extremity shortly after this photograph was taken.
By exposing the above incidents, it is hoped that fishermen will become more aware of the dangers of discarding unwanted fishing line. Also, more signage at fishing sites is needed to alert and educate fishermen about the potential threat of discarded fishing line.
Hugh Chittenden
