REELING in

MARInE DEBRIS
 

A Reference Guide to Recycling

Monofilament Fishing Line

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION / WWW.MARINEDEBRIS.NOAA.GOV
A Reference Guide to Recycling

Monofilament Fishing Line

R E E L I N G I N M A R I N E D E B R I S

In 2005, volunteers

participating in the

International Coastal

Cleanup (ICC) – the

world’s largest single­day

volunteer effort to

benefit the marine

environment – found

101 marine animals

(fish, birds, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles)

entangled in various forms of marine debris.

Of these, about 60 percent were entangled in

discarded fishing line and nets.1 Even though these

materials represent a fraction of the total number

of items collected during the ICC, fishing line, nets

and other related debris can be extremely

dangerous to marine wildlife and marine habitats.

It is estimated that ingestion of, and entanglement

in, marine debris causes the deaths of more than

one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals

each year. A 1998 study in Hawaii revealed that

discarded monofilament fishing line had caused

significant damage to cauliflower coral colonies,2

which provide important habitat for fish and

invertebrates. Fishing line can also collect underwater on pier pilings, posing a threat to animals

that swim in and around them. This abandoned line

can ghost fish – continue to catch marine species –

for many years. Fishing line, nets, rope and other

debris can also wrap around boat propellers and

clog seawater intakes, causing costly engine

damage and becoming a safety hazard.

While it has become one of the most pervasive

environmental problems, marine debris is also one

of the most preventable – and fishermen can help

contribute to the solution.

1	 The Ocean Conservancy, The International Coastal Cleanup Report (2005): 27

2	 Tomoko Yoshikawa and Kazue Asoh, “Entanglement of Fishing Line and Coral Death,”

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V5X­4B1SK68­2/2/e8677ea7b0e16be3f9510bfd54de804e (Accessed May 14, 2007)

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What Is Marine Debris?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), marine debris is defined

as any man­made object discarded, disposed of or

abandoned that enters the coastal or marine

environment. It may enter directly due to human

action, or indirectly when washed out to sea via

rivers, streams and storm drains.

Unlike earlier generations, today’s world relies

heavily on synthetic materials. When these durable

and highly buoyant items – such as fishing line,

nets, gear and other materials – become lost in the

ocean environment they can travel thousands of

miles on ocean currents, posing a threat to ocean

ecosystems and wildlife.

Where Does It

Come From?

While there are countless types of marine debris,

it all shares a common origin – people. In fact,

people’s mishandling of waste materials and other

items makes up the bulk of the marine debris

problem. Most researchers classify marine debris as

coming from land­ or ocean/waterway­based

sources.

Most land­based marine debris reaches the ocean

when people carelessly discard trash while on land.

Debris is also blown into the water or carried by

creeks, rivers, storm drains and sewers into the

ocean.

People can also generate debris while at sea. Like

land­based debris, a large portion of oceanwaterway­based debris reaches the ocean through

failure to properly dispose of or stow trash while

onboard boats and vessels.

Failure to retrieve fishing gear or improperly

dispose of fishing­related trash can also contribute

to the debris problem. Abandoned fishing line,

gear, nets and other litter, whether discarded on

land or at sea, can become debris with damaging

and deadly effects. Even when disposed of properly,

fishing line and gear can still end up in the

environment by being blown out of a garbage

container or landfill.

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What Are the Impacts?
 

In addition to being unsightly, marine debris poses

significant threats to ocean ecosystems, wildlife

and human health and safety.

Abandoned nets, crab and lobster pots, fishing

gear, plastic tarps and other debris can smother and

crush sensitive coral reef and seagrass ecosystems

and their benthic (bottom­dwelling) species.

Animals can mistake many types of debris –

including cigarette filters, food bags, pieces of

plastic and packaging – for food. Once ingested,

these materials can cause choking and/or starvation.

Medical and personal hygiene debris can enter

waterways when sewer systems fail or overflow.

These items often contain harmful bacteria and

viruses. In addition, syringes, broken glass and other

hazardous items pose obvious dangers to human

safety.

Impacts of Fishing Gear Debris

Marine debris also poses threats to fishermen, the

fish they catch and important fish habitat and

breeding grounds.

Because it is strong, thin, durable and nearly

invisible, monofilament is widely used by anglers.

But those same qualities can make it extremely

hazardous to wildlife when left behind. Discarded

or abandoned fishing equipment is a serious threat

for marine wildlife: it can entangle, maim and

cause many species to drown. It is difficult to

estimate the total number of debris­related deaths

and injuries to marine animals; however, entanglement and ingestion incidents have been reported

for at least 267 animal species worldwide, including

43 percent of marine mammals, 44 percent of

seabird species and all but one sea turtle species.3

Fishing line, nets, rope and other trash can also

wrap around boat propellers and clog seawater

intakes, causing costly engine damage and

becoming a safety hazard.

Working Toward Solutions

Curbing the debris problem requires more than just

removing existing debris. Prevention – changing the

behavior that causes marine debris to enter the

environment – is the most effective way to manage

the marine debris pollution issue long term.

Consequently, multiple organizations and local,

regional and state agencies are collaborating on

outreach projects designed to bring awareness to

and lessen the problem of marine debris. Several

efforts are focusing on monitoring the behaviors

and activities that result in marine debris and

developing prevention strategies that educate

people on marine debris issues, their role in the

problem and how to prevent it. For more

information on these programs, visit

www.marinedebris.noaa.gov.

3 Marine Mamal Commission. 1998. Marine Mammal Commission, Annual Report to Congress 1997. Marine Mammal Commission,

Bethesda, MD, p 174

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R E E L I N G I N M A R I N E D E B R I S

R E C Y C L I N G M O N O F I L A M E N T L I N E

In addition to disposing of used gear properly,

fishermen can also help alleviate the problem by

recycling their used fishing line. Most brands and

sizes of monofilament fishing line can be recycled, as long as it is clean – line with growth or

plant material on it may not be recyclable. Most

programs – which can be state­, local­ or

privately­run – encourage fishermen to deposit

their cleaned, used fishing line in specially

marked containers for recycling.

Numerous line recycling programs exist

throughout the country. The following section

lists some of the major programs and resources

available for fishermen interested in recycling

their monofilament line.

Monofilament Recovery

& Recycling Program

www.fishinglinerecycling.org or

http://myfwc.com/mrrp/index.asp

One of the best­known

line recycling programs

in the country, the

Monofilament Recovery

& Recycling Programs

(MRRP) is a statewide

effort initiated with

funding from the Florida Fish

and Wildlife Conservation Commission to

educate the public on the problems caused by

monofilament line left in the environment,

encourage recycling through a network of line

recycling bins and drop­off locations and

conduct volunteer monofilament line cleanup

events. While the program is based in Florida,

the MRRP website provides visitors with specific

guidelines and information to implement their

own monofilament recovery and recycling

program.

Berkley Conservation Institute

Recycling Program

www.berkley­fishing.com/about_conservation.php

One of the largest manufacturers of monofilament

fishing line, Berkley (a subsidiary of Pure Fishing)

has recycled more than nine million miles of

fishing line since 1990. The company recycles old

and used line (along with other post­consumer

materials) into artificial underwater habitat

structures called Berkley Fish­HabTM. Anglers can

mail their used monofilament line directly to

Berkley’s collection center at the following

address: Berkley Recycling, 1900 18th Street,

Spirit Lake, IA 51360.

Reel In and Recycle BoatU.S. Foundation

National Monofilament Recycling Program

www.boatus.com/foundation/Monofilament

Partnering with anglers and volunteer groups

across the country, the BoatU.S. Foundation has

established a nationwide monofilament recycling

program. The BoatU.S. Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Boat Owners Association of

the United States, is dedicated to promoting safe

and environmentally sensitive boating. Fishermen

can visit the website to find a recycling site near

them or contact the BoatU.S. Foundation to

learn how they can host a bin site. Contact

cleanwater@boatus.com for more information.

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what you can do
 

Serve as an example to others and get
 

involved in cleanups in your area.
 

People who enjoy fishing and its related

activities can help reduce the amount of

debris that enters the oceans and other

waterways by following these guidelines:

● Bring ALL of your trash back to shore for

proper disposal in trash cans or recycling

bins, including all pieces of fishing line and

other fishing gear.

● Properly stow and secure waste materials

on your boat so that it won’t be blown or

washed overboard.

● Collect pieces of fishing line and other

trash that you see in or near the water and

dispose of it properly. Recycle it if possible.

● Follow the marine debris regulations

required by Annex V of MARPOL. Remember

that it is illegal to dispose of any plastic in

all navigable waters of the United States

and anywhere at sea.

● Encourage your tackle shops, docks,

marinas, fishing piers and boat ramps to

provide adequate trash cans and recycling

bins for used line and other trash.

● Support environmentally responsible

marinas.

● Serve as an example to others. Get

involved in cleanups in your area and keep

the oceans free of debris.

The production of this educational document was provided with support from the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program and was

developed by Sheavly Consultants through Contract Project Number AB133F06CN0193,

"Web­based Education Campaign for Marine Debris Awareness & Prevention.

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