Abandoned fishing line damages coral colonies and entangles sea turtles, monk seals, manta rays, and other marine animals. MOC Marine Institute (MOCMI) seeks to prevent pollution and decrease harmful interactions between marine life and discarded fishing line through the establishment of the Fishing Line Recycling Program (FLRP).
The FLRP provides an easily accessible method for anglers to take a hands-on, proactive approach to prevent pollution and reduce entanglement hazards by properly discarding their line. Fishing line recycling bins and educational signage are installed at over 40 high-traffic fishing locations along Maui’s shoreline, harbors, and boat ramps, and on four sites in Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island.
Fishing line is routinely collected from the recycling bins, sorted of hooks and weights, measured, and recorded in our database. The line is then shipped to the Berkley Conservation Institute where it is melted down and made into fish habitat structures and other repurposed equipment.
MOCMI’s team performs bi-weekly shoreline and underwater surveys to collect and document discarded fishing line and other fishing debris. The data obtained will be used to measure the program’s success over time.
For more information or to have a bin installed in your area, contact Dustin at dustin@mocmarineinstitute.org.
Fishing Line Recycling
Lawaiʻa Pono
Abandoned fishing line damages coral colonies and entangles sea turtles, monk seals, manta rays, and other marine animals. MOC Marine Institute (MOCMI) seeks to prevent pollution and decrease harmful interactions between marine life and discarded fishing line through the establishment of the Fishing Line Recycling Program (FLRP).
The FLRP provides an easily accessible method for anglers to take a hands-on, proactive approach to prevent pollution and reduce entanglement hazards by properly discarding their line. Fishing line recycling bins and educational signage are installed at over 40 high-traffic fishing locations along Maui’s shoreline, harbors, and boat ramps, and on four sites in Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island.
Fishing line is routinely collected from the recycling bins, sorted of hooks and weights, measured, and recorded in our database. The line is then shipped to the Berkley Conservation Institute where it is melted down and made into fish habitat structures and other repurposed equipment.
MOCMI’s team performs bi-weekly shoreline and underwater surveys to collect and document discarded fishing line and other fishing debris. The data obtained will be used to measure the program’s success over time.
For more information or to have a bin installed in your area, contact Dustin at dustin@mocmarineinstitute.org.