The thought of any animal trapped underwater, slowly drowning while it frantically searches for an escape is horrific. Knowing that we allow this to happen to one of our most iconic and unique species, the platypus, for the sake of a few yabbies, is simply disgraceful. And yet this is what happens every year with people using enclosed yabby traps (i.e. opera house nets, drum nets etc.) in our waterways. These nets trap indiscriminately and frequently drown platypuses (as well as other air breathing animals such as rakali, and turtles) and the current regulations clearly don't prevent this. This was graphically and horribly illustrated earlier this year by the death of five platypuses in just 2 opera house nets in west Gippsland in May (https://www.facebook.com/platypusSPOT/photos/a.392741760903702.1073741828.356807174497161/732655530245655/?type=3&theater). It’s estimated that these two nets could have killed up to half the creek’s platypus population.

In Victoria enclosed yabby traps, such as opera house nets, are illegal to use in public waterways, but allowed on private property (presumably to allow landowners to fish their off-stream dams). But what constitutes public waterways? If a creek runs through my property is it a private stream? Do platypuses inhabit in farm dams?

Confusion and misunderstanding of the current regulations as well as a lack of awareness or appreciation of the risks posed by these nets appears to be the major problem, so lets clarify a few common misunderstandings:

1) "There aren’t any platypus in this stream, I’ve been coming here for years and haven’t seen any”

As platypuses can be quite elusive and mainly active at night, not observing one in your local waterway certainly does not mean they are not present. Platypuses inhabit many large and small waterways throughout Victoria and long term residents are sometimes quite surprised when they are told they have some platypus neighbours. For someone unfamiliar with the waterway, it is virtually impossible to tell if platypuses are present.

2) "Platypus don’t live in farm dams"

Platypuses are regularly found in farm dams. In fact, some on-stream dams can provide excellent foraging habitat for them. They can also travel across land to reach off-stream dams or travel along drainage channels after rainfall. So regulations allowing use of these indiscriminate death traps in private dams do not prevent platypuses being drowned.

3) “I use these nets safely as I check them regularly”

Platypuses are mammals like us. They only have a couple of minutes of air when diving and if they are frantically searching for a way out of a trap, they will use this up even quicker. Checking nets regularly will not prevent their drowning.

4) "But they are sold in my local camping store so surely I can use them?”

Yes, and that’s part of the problem. While most responsible stores will inform customers of the regulations and risks, many don’t. These nets are also available in large department stores or online where no staff are available to share this information. The problem is compounded by the fact that all nets sold have little or no labelling. Information on the use of equipment in inland (freshwater) waters is available on the Victorian Fisheries Authority web page link here. 

5) “I wasn’t aware they were illegal”

Well, now you do. Again, same problem as described above.

6) “I’m unsure of the difference between an enclosed yabby trap such as an opera house net, and a hoop or drop net net”.

Victorian Fisheries Authority web page has good information which is available here.

We’re sure most people would be devastated to be responsible for the death of a platypus. How terrible would it be to pull out a net with your kids and find a drowned platypus in it?

So how do we prevent this?

1) We want owners/users to immediately stop using any enclosed yabby traps and switch to safer alternatives such as hoop nets.

2) We’d like to see retailers acknowledge the problem, show some corporate responsibility and stop selling enclosed yabby traps (such as opera house nets) immediately. Also consider a product recall, or implement an in store discount/swap out scheme for safer nets.

3) If you find an enclosed yabby trap being used illegally, immediately report to the authorities. In Victoria you can call 13FISH any time of the day, or DEWLP on 136186 during business hours.

Ultimately, we’d like to see the sale, ownership and use of enclosed yabby nets in any waterways illegal. There are platypus-friendly alternatives that are just as effective, such as hoop or drop nets.

So what can you do?

 - Spread the word. Many people are simply unaware of the regulations or the risks these nets pose. So please share this blog or pass this information on.

 - If you go into an outdoor store, ask if they sell enclosed yabby traps and if yes, explain the issue explain the issue to them and then ask them if there is a good reason they won’t stop? To find out who sells them, just google the words “opera house net buy” and you’ll get a good idea.

 - Contact your local or state politicians, ask them to support a change in regulations which ban the sale, ownership and use of enclosed yabby traps, and explain why. A key minister responsible for both fisheries regulations and also animal welfare related regulations in Victoria is the Honorable Jaala Pulford. e: jaala.pulford@parliament.vic.gov.au.

–  Report a sighting. If you are ever lucky enough to see a platypus in the wild, please register the sighting using the platypusSPOT app available here. The more we know about their distribution the better.

What are we (and others) doing?

 In Victoria, a concerned group have been established (the Victorian Alliance for Platypus-Safe Yabby Traps), and we are working really hard with relevant government authorities and like minded organisations to try and get the use of enclosed yabby traps in all waters banned, as well as raise awareness around the issue.

At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves “Are a few yabbies worth causing the traumatic drowning death of our most iconic wildlife?” We think the answer has to be a resounding NO, and call on all people who use them to stop, retailers to remove them from sale, and the relevant state authorities to change the regulations to protect our vulnerable wildife.

 Josh Griffiths (wildlife ecologist) and Doug Gimesy (conservation and wildlife photographer)