Did you know...? Information
For information about the Monofilament Recovery
Monofilament fishing line is and Recycling Program (MRRP), visit
http://mrrp.tamu.edu
non-biodegradable and lasts or contact:
about 600 years in the aquatic John P. O’Connell
environment. j-oconnell@tamu.edu
or
Texas Sea Grant College Program
Even fishing line that is (979) 845-3854
thrown in the garbage
can end up in the
USED
environment by blowing
out of the garbage can or
landfill, or by being taken NI
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out by birds or animals, so
NATIONAL OC
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please dispose of your fishing
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line responsibly.
Brochure developed by Texas Sea
LINE
Grant College Program. Publication
of this document supported in part
by Institutional Grant No. NFFK0000-
is harmful
6-00543 to Texas A&M University
from the National Sea Grant Office,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
to wildlife
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce. and boat
TAMU-SG-07-501
June 2007 • 10M
motors,
NFFK0000-6-00543
but it can be
RECYCLED
What You Can Do...
Sponsor a recycling bin. Report tangled animals.
Volunteers check the bins on a regular basis Birds and animals cannot see discarded fishing
to make sure theat the line is free of other line, so it is easy for them to become tangled
debris. When the bin is full, they send the in it. Once tangled, they may starve, drown or
monofilament to Pure Fishing, the parent lose a limb.
company of Berkley, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, If you see
which is currently the only place that recycles an animal Volunteer to sponsor an outdoor monofilament
used fishing line. The used monofilament is tangled recycling bin and empty it on a monthly basis.
chopped up, melted down and the plastic is in fishing
then used to manufacture new plastic fishing- line, go to Be Line Conscious.
related products like tackle boxes, spools for the Texas Consider the age of your line and its strength
lines, and artificial fish habitats. It is not made Parks and and store loose pieces of fishing line. Even
into more monofilament line. Wildlife web the tag ends cut from leaders should be stored
site to locate for proper disposal. Cut an ‘X’ into the lid of
a wildlife rehabilitator in your county http:// a film or tennis ball canister to make it easy to
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/rehab/list/. poke the pieces of line through and store this in
a secure location. Make it a rule never to throw
Recover your line. any kind of plastic into nature, especially not
monofilament line. When you throw away
Whenever possible retrieve and properly
fishing line, cut it into pieces less than 12
dispose of any monofilament
inches.
fishing line that you encounter.
Take the time to remove any Recycle.
monofilament if it becomes
Recycle monofilament fishing line at your local
tangled.
tackle shop or in an outdoor PVC recycling bin
posted at boat ramps and piers. If your tackle
Volunteer. shop does not have a recycling bin encourage
Participate in local them to contact the Monofilament Recovery
beach and river cleanup and Recycling Program, (979) 245-4100 or
events. Volunteer for email John O’Connell at j-oconnell@tamu.edu
agencies that are actively to learn where they can get their free postage
sponsoring cleanups. paid indoor collection bin.