Discarded fishing tackle peaks in summer holidays

As the school holidays begin, the RSPCA has predicted a rise in the number of wild animals injured by discarded fishing equipment.

According to the charity, 78 animals were taken into its four wildlife centres in 2012 due to fishing-related injuries.

Already this year, there have been 43 incidents, a figure that is expected to rise with the start of the holidays.

Senior RSPCA scientist Adam Grogan, said: "We always see an increase in animals injured by fishing litter during the summer holidays when inexperienced anglers are more likely to take advantage of the warmer weather and holiday time.

"Floats get caught in throats, hooks pierce skin and beaks and fishing line frequently gets wrapped around limbs.

"Swans seem particularly affected by this issue, but we have also seen other animals such as gulls, geese and even the odd owl with serious and often fatal injuries."

The RSPCA is currently working with the Angling Trust, the Environment Agency and the National Swan Convention to reduce the damaging effects of discarded fishing tackle on wildlife.