Riga residents launch petition to ban fishing at Māra's Pond
Residents of Riga have started collecting signatures to ban fishing at Māra's Pond, where abandoned fishing lines and hooks threaten a beloved family of swans and other waterfowl. Activists say they are acting as a voice for the birds, who cannot speak for themselves.
Local residents in Riga have launched an initiative calling for a ban on fishing at Māra's Pond (Māras dīķis). A signature-collection campaign has begun, aiming to draw the attention of the city authorities and the wider public to the danger facing the waterfowl living there.
Threat to the birds
Activists say the pond's resident swan family and other waterfowl are repeatedly endangered by fishing lines and hooks left behind after fishing. Birds can suffer fatal injuries after becoming entangled in discarded lines or swallowing hooks.
A community-driven effort
The organizers of the signature drive emphasize that the birds cannot speak up for themselves or warn of the dangers they face, so residents feel it is their duty to act as their voice. They hope that a sufficient number of signatures will prompt decision-makers to consider restricting or fully banning fishing at this particular body of water.
Māra's Pond is a popular spot among Riga residents, who come to watch and feed the waterfowl, including the swans, that live there. The residents' involvement reflects growing public attention to protecting urban natural sites and to animal welfare issues in the capital.
