National Parks Association of NSW - Macarthur Branch
Illegal Yabby Traps Kill Platypuses
March 2009
Yabby traps are illegal in rivers, creeks and lakes east of the Newell Highway in NSW.
The traps are still being sold in fishing and sporting shops as they are legal in private dams and the ocean.
Opera House Style Yabby Trap.
These traps are illegal wherever platypuses are found, however many people are not aware of the issues or regulations (NPWS, DPI Fisheries). Even modified traps are illegal in public freshwaters in the eastern third of NSW. The use of these traps and the associated accidental platypus deaths are continuing.
Opera House style traps are known to kill playtpus, 5 were drowned in just one trap in the Wyong River. They can get in, but cannot get out and drown in minutes. These traps are being sold by unsuspecting fishing tackle and sports shops, and will continue to kill platypus unless the public are alerted to their danger.
Platypus caught in yabby trap.
Photo courtesy L. Fletcher
A Platypus was also drowned in an illegal yabby trap in the Bombala River, and the N.P.W.S. issued the following warning:
Yabby traps are known to catch and drown air-breathing animals such as platypus, turtles, water rats and birds. These air-breathing animals, which are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 enter the traps looking for food, get trapped and drown.
Anyone caught using illegal traps can face fines of up to $11,000 and then $1,100 in respect of every animal that is harmed after that, or six months imprisonment, or both.
THESE REPORTS ARE JUST TWO OF AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF ACCIDENTAL DROWNINGS; THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS KILLED IS UNKNOWN.
NO ONE WANTS TO ACCIDENTALLY DROWN THESE SHY, RARE ANIMALS.
Platypus caught in fishing line.
Photo courtesy L. Fletcher
Flyers
The following documents are flyers that you can print and distribute to friends, sports and fishing tackle shops in your area, and send by email to as many contacts as you can.
Media Coverage
- Port Macquarie News - Death traps for platypuses
- ABC News - Illegal yabby traps threaten platypuses
- Central Coast Express Advocate - Illegal traps kill platypuses
Links of Interest
- Yabby traps - guidelines to protect wildlife - NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
- HELP reduce wildlife drowning in yabby traps (Pdf)
- Fishing for yabbies in New South Wales - NSW Department of Primary Industries (Pdf)
Photographs and information supplied by Central Coast - Platypus and Conservation Awareness Team (PACT) and refer to Platypus accidental killed in the Wyong River.