Ocean Sentry
Sarasota County — Anglers in this county have recycled enough fishing line in two years to stretch from Longboat Key to Daytona Beach, saving the limbs and lives of birds, manatees and sea turtles that might have been snagged had the fishing line remained in the water.
Fishing line also threatens other animals, such as sea turtles, dolphins and birds.
Once the fishing line gets loose in the environment, it takes about 600 years for it to break down, said Rachel Herman, county scientist for the recycling project.
Manatees are particularly vulnerable to swallowing or getting snagged in fishing line because they graze in sea grass beds where lost line often gets trapped, said Joe Gaspard, manatee care training and research coordinator for Mote Marine. Gaspard coordinates the team of volunteers who regularly empty the bins.
“We’ve seen quite a few animals lose their flippers just due to entanglement,” Gaspard said.
