Pictured: Steve Cooper (left) and Sean Kevans with some of their haul.
Scuba divers from across the South West joined Lake Bullen Merri South Beach Committee of Management volunteers and Camperdown Angling Club members to collect rubbish from the bed of lake Bullen Merri.
Along with lost rods and nets, one of the big problems was one that won't take much effort to fix. Some anglers use cat food to catch bait fish and have been throwing the cans into the lake rather than taking them home to recycle.
Bins at the reserve had to be removed a number of years ago because they were misused and regularly overflowed with household rubbish which the volunteer committee could not keep up with.
Scuba diver instructor Sally Watson from Daktari at Port Fairy brings her students to Lake Bullen Merri for deep water training when the ocean is too rough.
She noticed the amount of rubbish in the lake and volunteered to help the committee.
Ms Watson said there were eight divers in the lake on the day.
"We're more than happy to do regular clean-up dives. We have a policy that on every dive we do, we take three bits of rubbish out of the water," she said.
"It's disappointing to see so many lost bait traps. There were about 20 of them. People need to tie them off and don't just walk away.
"If fishermen are using something smelly like cat food as an attractant for the gudgeon — take the cans home."
South Beach committee Chairman Philip Russell thanked Ms Watson for her initiative.
"The angling club jumped on board too. It was a good venture.
"Wayne Hately and Robbie Nicol did a great job in the boat. It was a pretty tough north wind and they missed out on a fishing competition on the Curdies because they had committed a month earlier to do this.
"It's a testament to the work that people put in here that goes unnoticed.
"Our guys from the committee organised a barbecue for the divers afterwards and had a sausage in bread and a chat to show our appreciation."
"The reserve is looking really good so we appreciate the lake users who have taken on board to take their rubbish home."
Corangamite Shire Council Deputy Mayor Laurie Hickey is a keen user of the lake and called on boaties and fishers to help protect the fragile ecosystem.
"I'd like to give a call out to the volunteers who gave their gave time in windy, choppy weather to do the diving and operate the boat.
"On behalf of all lake users I also thank the volunteers who do a massive job maintaining the foreshore.
"The cleanup sends a good message to lakes users to take their rubbish away with them.
"That way we can preserve the beautiful natural asset."
