Dog dies after swallowing discarded fishing gear

Ruby, 10, died two weeks ago after swallowing discarded fishing gear

A man whose dog died after swallowing discarded fishing gear is asking anglers to dispose of their equipment safely.

Colin Walker said his 10-year-old dog Ruby swallowed two metal fishing hooks and a nylon line on Grouville Beach two weeks ago.

Vets managed to remove the gear from the Leonberger, but they could not save her life.

Mr Walker said dogs, wild birds and people walking bare foot were all at risk - and he asked all anglers to remove their used tackle from the beach.

Colin Walker, with dog Tilly, is asking anglers to dispose of their gear safely

He said: "Maybe it needs a few notices up on the slip here.

"They've got various other notices about what you can and can't catch. Maybe they need to reinforce the fact that fishermen should be careful to take their stuff back with them.

"In fact, the code of conduct which is issued by fisheries actually states that they should either put it in the bins or take it home with them."

Mr Walker said he had since found sharp fishing gear sticking up from the sand, including "some fairly nasty lead weights with hooks attached, basically discarded."

Colin Walker said he had since found sharp fishing gear sticking up from the sand

Bob Tompkins, an environmentalist, said dogs coming into contact with hooks happened "a couple of times a year" in Jersey.

He said: "Usually the hooks will be entangled in the seaweed on the strand line, which is an area that dogs are drawn to as they scent-mark there. But there is also the chance of bits of dead fish that will draw them in as well.

"It used to be that it was trot lines [lines strung across a stream or river with hooks at intervals] that were the most common cause but these are now banned.

"It is something that not just dog owners need to be aware of, but parents with small children and for rod fishermen to ensure wherever possible that they do not discard line or hooks."

Constable Mike Jackson said trot lines had been illegal since 2017 to protect juvenile fish and "to avoid hurt to dogs".

He said: "Trot fishing is something that needs to be deterred.

"It’s difficult for the areas to be policed 24/7, but the department will take action if they do find indiscriminate trots being placed on the beach.

"A good look out will be kept, and we look forward to hearing reports from the public if they do find them."