Surfer injured by illegal longline
Line set by remote control boat from NSW beachNSW Police Marine Area Command is appealing for information after a surfer was injured when he became entangled in heavy fishing line suspected of being set from a remote control boat.
On Sunday September 2, a surfer was at Diggers Headland, Coffs Harbour, when he became entangled in a heavy fishing line near the rocks. He sustained injuries and was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics.
The line, which was made of heavy monofilament (of at least 100kg breaking strain) and had numerous hooks attached, was similar to a setline that can be lawfully used in deep offshore waters by commercial fishers.
Investigators believe a man used a radio-controlled boat or a Seahorse Electric Kontiki (see video below) to set the line from the southern end of Diggers Beach on Saturday afternoon (September 1).
Fisheries NSW regulations prohibit the use of setlines for recreational fishers. This incident also occurred within the Solitary Islands Marine Park where unattended lines are banned.
Police would like to speak to the person who set the line or anyone who may have witnessed the incident.
Marine Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Darren Schott, said the incident could have had a more serious outcome under different circumstances. "It’s lucky that the surfer wasn’t more seriously injured.
"If it had been a young child, he or she could have drowned," Detective Inspector Schott said.
Anyone who has information about this incident is urged to call Coffs Harbour Water Police on 66514981 or the Coffs Harbour Fisheries Office on 02 6652 3977.
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