Platypus deaths in Tasmania caused by illegal traps

In response to the overwhelming support of this petition, an article released today in the Examiner quoted the Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing chief executive officer Mark Nikolai as stating that "the organisation would support restrictions of the use and sale of these traps if there was evidence to support the claims". These nets are already illegal to use in Tasmanian inland waterways, but because of a small loop hole in the ban and the fact that they are still cheap and readily available in shops, the law preventing their use in this way is insufficient. http://www.molonglocatchment.org.au/PlatypusTrapsPaper Just over a week ago, one of these illegal nets/traps was discovered in Fernglade Reserve in Burnie. Luckily, it was found by a tourist before any of the resident platypuses had met an horrific death within it. (Read more about this here: http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/5167587/illegal-lobster-trap-found-in-fernglade-reserve/?cs=87) This could have been devastating for the area, as three platypus corpses were identified in just one illegal trap found in Fernglade already. Although only three bodies were contained within the net, we have no way of being able to confirm if any of these animals had young, which would have starved and died because of the death of their parent. (Read more about this here: http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/4399270/shock-loss-of-platypus-trio/) WE NEED ACTION NOW TO STOP THE SALE OF OPERA HOUSE NETS AND OTHER ENCLOSED YABBY TRAPS IN TASMANIA, THAT ENDANGER AND KILL OUR PLATYPUSES!