Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Program

Monofilament recycling bin at the end of Harford Pier

In March of 2007, ECOSLO joined a state-wide effort to prevent one of the ocean's most persistent and unsightly sources of pollution: discarded monofilament fishing line. With help from the SeaDoc Society's California Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project, a program administered through the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, two monofilament recycling bins were installed at Port San Luis's Harford Pier. ECOSLO volunteers regularly empty the bins and ship the line to be recycled. During the first year of the program, over 10,000 feet of fishing line has been collected at Harford Pier alone!

The Dangers of Monofilament in the Ocean

Most coastal ocean visitors have unfortunately observed gulls with hooks and monofilament line hanging from their bills or wrapped around their legs. As well, wildlife rehabilitators in California treat hundreds of marine birds and mammals for injuries related to recreational fishing gear entanglement and ingestion.

Entangled bird

Derelict recreational gear is particularly a problem around fishing piers, where masses of accumulated line on pilings create artificial habitats around which small fish congregate, attracting mammal and bird predators, which become injured in the process of foraging. Derelict monofilament line damages boat propellers, and endangers ocean swimmers too: tragically, sport divers have drowned after becoming entangled in derelict monofilament line.

We intend to help make our coastal environment safer for people and wildlife, as well as improve the aesthetic value of underwater habitat, by making a concerted effort to both remove accumulated monofilament from the water, as well as prevent it from being discarded in the first place.