Local Residents And Pols Call For Enforcement Of No-Fishing Rules On Ocean Ave Footbridge

Councilmember Chaim Deutsch mentioned the issue of people fishing on the Ocean Avenue Footbridge at a Community Board Meeting last week, and local residents agreed with his call for more enforcement of the fishing prohibition.

“When fishermen cast their fishing poles into the Bay, people walking by can be in danger of getting hit in the face, so enforcement of the regulations is really key,” said Deutsch in a Facebook post in which he also thanked the 61st Precinct for enforcing the rules as he requested.

Parents and pet owners worry about their child or pet getting hit with the hooks if the fishermen aren’t paying attention when casting a line.

“When you walk with kids and fishermen throw the stuff, kids can get caught. There are signs all over, but no one really enforces,” said Julia Mezbizer, who walks the bridge with her son, told the Brooklyn Daily. “It’s a big concern.”

There is a sign at the footbridge that wordlessly shows a fisherman with a cancel sign over him. Locals said the sign is confused to mean that you can’t cast the line, but it really means no fishing whatsoever. Deutsch agreed that the sign is deceiving, and looked to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make it clear.

“That is the sign that DOT uses. I requested that DOT replace the sign that makes it clear that there is no fishing,” wrote in a Facebook reply to a resident’s confusion over the sign. “That sign defines casting.”

The 61st Precinct will make sure to enforce rules at the footbridge more often, but will not dedicate an officer to the footbridge because they need the resources elsewhere.

“It’s going to be a gradual enforcement — if a cop is in the area and happens to observe — especially evening hours. We’re not going to post someone there at all times,” officer Sammy Shaya told the Brooklyn Daily. “It’s a not a crime of the century but if someone is complaining about it, we have to enforce or educate.”

Resident Alex Menjivar recently witnessed a swan get caught in a fisherman’s line on the bridge. No one paid any mind to the ailing bird, according to Menjivar.

“Everyone continued to fish not caring that a swan was caught and then tangled in the fishing line. The swan ended up dying,” said Menjivar. “This is a continuous problem. The swans think the people fishing have food and they get really close to the lines.”