Lure fishing to be banned at Westbury lake

Fishing lure floats are set to be banned at Vivash Park lake following concerns about repeated injuries to swans and other wildlife. 

Lure floats are a type of fishing tackle that sit below the surface of the water and are repeatedly cast and retrieved. The council says they can pose a particular risk to wildlife if they are lost, as they remain on the surface with hooks attached. 

 

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Bath Swan Rescue has attended Vivash Park 14 times since June in response to swans and cygnets suffering injuries or becoming entangled in fishing line and hooks. 

Incidents have included a cygnet found with a barbed hook and line in its beak and an adult swan with a multiple-barbed lure and trailing line attached to its leg. 

In July, another adult swan was found with a barbed, weighted hook embedded in its head. Several rescue attempts were made over four days before the swan was successfully caught and taken for emergency veterinary treatment and surgery. 

The council said lure floats are currently subject to a national ban between April and September and wants the restriction at Vivash Park to apply all year. 

Westbury Town Council’s Management of Services Committee considered the motion, proposed by Cllr Mike Sutton, at its meeting on Monday 14th September. 

The council said it was concerned about the continued harm caused to wildlife, particularly swans, while recognising that most anglers using the lake are responsible and remove or restrict harmful objects. 

Existing signage at the lake refers to the restriction but the council said the wording is too small. New signage is expected to cost around £1,100. 

Speaking to White Horse News, Cllr Jane Russ said, “We have had a lot of problems, which were well documented in White Horse News, for half a year with birds and mammals being injured.  

“What happens is that the other two types of floats, if they are not taken, sink and sit there. Whereas with a lure, you throw it and wind it in, then throw it and wind it in again. If it breaks at any point, the line and the lure itself don’t sink, they just sit on top of the water, which means it’s an absolute nightmare.  

“They typically have three hooks, which can really damage wildlife. So we decided we would ban them completely and then there is no ambiguity about it. That’s why we were so keen to have this. This is a serious problem.” 

Lure floats are a type of fishing tackle that sit below the surface of the water and are repeatedly cast and retrieved. The council says they can pose a particular risk to wildlife if they are lost, as they remain on the surface with hooks attached. 

Bath Swan Rescue has attended Vivash Park 14 times since June in response to swans and cygnets suffering injuries or becoming entangled in fishing line and hooks. 

Incidents have included a cygnet found with a barbed hook and line in its beak and an adult swan with a multiple-barbed lure and trailing line attached to its leg. 

In July, another adult swan was found with a barbed, weighted hook embedded in its head. Several rescue attempts were made over four days before the swan was successfully caught and taken for emergency veterinary treatment and surgery. 

The council said lure floats are currently subject to a national ban between April and September and wants the restriction at Vivash Park to apply all year. 

Westbury Town Council’s Management of Services Committee considered the motion, proposed by Cllr Mike Sutton, at its meeting on Monday 14th September. 

The council said it was concerned about the continued harm caused to wildlife, particularly swans, while recognising that most anglers using the lake are responsible and remove or restrict harmful objects. 

Existing signage at the lake refers to the restriction but the council said the wording is too small. New signage is expected to cost around £1,100. 

Speaking to White Horse News, Cllr Jane Russ said, “We have had a lot of problems, which were well documented in White Horse News, for half a year with birds and mammals being injured.  

“What happens is that the other two types of floats, if they are not taken, sink and sit there. Whereas with a lure, you throw it and wind it in, then throw it and wind it in again. If it breaks at any point, the line and the lure itself don’t sink, they just sit on top of the water, which means it’s an absolute nightmare.  

“They typically have three hooks, which can really damage wildlife. So we decided we would ban them completely and then there is no ambiguity about it. That’s why we were so keen to have this. This is a serious problem.”