Prime Hook collects monofilament fishing line

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and this year they have partnered with Friends of Prime Hook to place four monofilament collection containers in the following locations: Parking area at Fowler Beach Road bridge over Slaughter Canal; public access area at the Petersfield Ditch water control structure, Route16; Fleetwood Pond boat ramp; refuge Headquarters boat ramp

Every day, improperly discarded monofilament fishing line causes devastating problems for marine life and the environment. Marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and birds become injured from entanglements, or might ingest the line, often dying as a result.

Human divers and swimmers are also at risk from entanglements and the line can also damage boat propellers. The goals of the nonprofit Friends of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge are to:

• Provide educational and interpretive material in the Friends’ Store and raise environmental awareness of wildlife habitat at Prime Hook NWR. The funds generated through store sales are used to support Refuge activities and programs.

• Seek public and private support for new and existing programs.

• Contribute time, talents and funds for construction, repair and maintenance of recreational and educational facilities and grounds.

• To this end, they invite everyone to pick up fishing line whenever they see it and place it in one of the containers.

Volunteers will mail the discarded monofilament lines to John O'Connel, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension 211017, County Road 171 Angleton, TX 77515. The monofilament lines are recycled into spools and tackle boxes that are safe for our environment.

For more information regarding this program, go to mrrp.tamu.edu and the Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling page on Facebook