Gullible hooked

I saw a very disturbing sight yesterday down near the Bailey bridge. A poor Young gull landed close to the Swans with a fishing lure hanging from it's beak. It tried several times to shake it off but it was hooked into the nostril hole of the upper beak. How it got there is a mystery but it was probably searching for food and being young would be curious at anything resembling a fish.

I would have removed it, had it been possible to catch it. There was no fishing line attached so I presume it picked it up near the end of the pier. After a while it took off and flew up harbour street , probably back to it's nesting area to see if mum could end it's dilemma.

After the Cygnets hooked experience I think perhaps it's time for a few signs being placed on the end of both piers and one on the harbour wall near the smoke shed. Too often I have picked up line, hooks and weights at these locations. Clearly some people have little or no regard for the wildlife and will have to be reminded not to leave fishing tackle lying around !

If our councillors will not or cannot stop fishing from these locations then I will write to Liz and graham our local councillors with a request to have simple signs put up, PLEASE DO NOT DISCARD ANY FISHING TACKLE AND WITHDRAW LINES FROM WATER WHEN WILDLIFE IS CLOSE BY. This should make people aware that we value our wildlife and it has priority.

It might also be worth imposing the use of BARBLESS hooks only from these locations ?

I know that elsewhere in the interests of catch and return that barbless hooks are being used.

Perhaps the poor gull with lure would have been able to discard it, if it was a barbless treble hook?