The Problem
We would like our waterways to be clean and free of monofilament. Monofilament is a danger to wildlife along our beaches, ponds, rivers and waterways. It becomes entangled in the limbs, fins, and bodies of animals, resulting in injury and even death of birds, fish and turtles. Some turtles in our area are on the endangered list. It also looks awful on the ground, in the trees and around the beautiful and natural areas in our town. FAQ: What is monofilament? Most fishing line that you can buy today is made of monofilament-a single-strand, strong, flexible plastic that is clear or tinted blue, pink or green. Why is monofilament a problem in the environment? Most monofilament is non-biodegradable and can last hundreds of years depending on environmental conditions. Because it is thin and often clear, it is very difficult for birds and animals to see and they can easily brush up against it and become entangled in it. Once entangled, they may become injured, may drown, may become strangled, or may starve to death. Many animals also ingest fishing line. One recovered sea turtle was found to have consumed 590 feet of heavy-duty fishing line. How does monofilament end up in the environment? Much of the fishing line that ends up in the water gets there when someone's hook gets snagged on something underwater and the line breaks when pulled. Sometimes the line will rub against a sharp shell (like an oyster shell) and will break. Large fish can sometimes pull hard enough to break lines. Sometimes fishing lines get caught in trees and break off there. Even fishing line that is thrown in the garbage can end up in the environment-either by blowing out of the garbage can or landfill, or by being taken out by birds or animals. Source: http://mrrp.myfwc.com/faqs.aspx
