Bath Swan Rescue volunteers say the amount of discarded fishing hooks and line they are regularly removing from the canal is “pretty heart-breaking”.
In a plea to anglers on their new Facebook page this week, the group highlights the injuries that swans encounter from discarded gear.
They say that last summer in the Widcombe area alone, hooks were removed from five cygnets and three adults.
“Some of these injuries were life-altering, including one cygnet who sustained a fishing hook to the eye which caused deep infection, requiring months of sanctuary care, and an adult who remains with a permanent beak deformity from a pike lure.
“Please don’t cast near swans and make sure you take everything home with you.
“We know accidents happen so if any anglers find their lines snap, please do report it to us and every effort will be made to sort retrieval.”
People are urged not to attempt to remove line if it has been swallowed by a swan, as metal detection for hooks is needed.
The group can be contacted via its Facebook page.
