Recycling fishing line for marine life

Here's an interesting article about our marine life here in Florida:

 

TAMPA - Many people consider Florida to be the fishing capital of the world. But with so many anglers comes a lot of fishing line.

Images of dolphins and turtles tangled in fishing line or nets are disturbing and unforgivable.

"As an environmental scientist, as a person who loves the outdoors, I like wildlife and I feel bad when I see them suffering in a way like that," said Kevin Misiewicz, an environmental scientist with Tampa Bay Watch.

Fishing line causes needless suffering, due to some anglers' improper disposal of it. Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's produced a video on fishing line recycling to put stop the suffering.

A popular reminder of this is Winter the dolphin. Her tale was amputated after it became entangled in fishing line. Most animals aren't as lucky -- especially birds.

Misiewicz explained, "The hooks will get lodged under the wing, the wing gets pinned down, and then they can't fly. If they can't fly, they can't catch food, if they can't catch food they can't feed their young, and often times the whole nest can parish."

There is a way to prevent these disasters: monofilament fishing line recycling bins posted at many major fishing areas.

Misiewicz helps clean the bins. While cleaning, he notes items of garbage that are not supposed to be in it.

 

Click here to learn more.

Posted via email from pjtampabay's posterous