Recycling Monofilament Fishing Line
Friday, August 8th, 2008Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program
When you get a snarl in your fishing line, it’s usually not worth trying to pick it apart, so cut it off and toss it. But pitching monofilament line in the water or on shore is a bad idea.
People just don’t realize it can get caught up in boat motors, and it really has been quite a problem. There have been many animals that’ve been injured and killed with this monofilament fishing line.
Ann Miller is the Aquatic Education coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife. She says you may think that disposing of monofilament line in the water or on shore isn’t a problem, because UV rays will break it down, rendering it harmless.
But…you forget that many times, if the monofilament is below the water line or in the shade, those UV rays are not there breaking it down. And so, we really do have a lot of monofilament that is in the environment for many, many years.
Circumvent future trouble by recycling that line in outdoor collection bins, or at participating bait shops. Volunteers clean the line of debris, then send it to Berkley Pure Fishing Company in Iowa for recycling.
The goal of the monofilament recycling program is to help reduce the amount of monofilament in the environment, to help protect wildlife and fish, and people’s property.
We have a list of recycling locations at passprttotexas.org.
That’s our show…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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