fishing line recycling

Improperly discarded lines harm marine mammals, sea turtles, fish, and birds. In partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Brevard County Natural Resource Management, the Waterway Warriors have added recycling containers to our barrels in popular fishing spots. These containers help raise awareness about the harmful effects of fishing line debris, provide convenient disposal locations, and promote recycling. Volunteers maintain the containers, with costs covered by the Waterway Warriors.

Fishing line left behind in the Indian River Lagoon poses a silent but deadly threat to local wildlife. Dolphins, manatees, birds, and other animals can easily become entangled in this nearly invisible hazard. Once wrapped around fins, flippers, wings, or necks, the line can cause deep lacerations, restrict movement, or even lead to drowning or starvation. Birds may get tangled while diving for fish, while manatees and dolphins can drag the line for miles, suffering painful infections or losing limbs. What seems like a harmless piece of string can turn into a death trap in the water. Proper disposal and community cleanups are critical to keeping our lagoon safe for the creatures that call it home

The Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) in Florida is a vital initiative that helps protect marine life by providing anglers with a responsible way to dispose of used fishing line. Instead of polluting the water and endangering wildlife, monofilament line is collected in special recycling containers and transformed into new products—keeping it out of the ecosystem entirely. Installing these fishing line recycling containers on Waterway Warriors cleanup barrels in popular fishing areas is a smart, targeted way to reduce entanglement hazards for dolphins, manatees, birds, and other wildlife in the Indian River Lagoon. It’s a simple solution with a powerful impact—helping both anglers and volunteers become active stewards of Florida’s waterways.

However, due to rising material costs, we’re limited in the number of containers we can provide. We’d love to have more recycling containers on many more barrels! Can you help?

Want to become an MRRP Hero?  Want to honor a fisherman in your life? Want to save animals from entanglement?

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