drawing the line on marine debris
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Flotilla 67 has collected 4,000 lbs. of fishing line and plastic spools as part of a recycling program that received funding from Virginia Sea Grant.
In 2013, Virginia Sea Grant provided funding to Marine Safety Officer Wes Batten and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 67, based in Williamsburg, Virginia, for assembling and installing monofilament fishing line recycling stations. Recycling stations were originally installed at locations along the James, Chickahominy, and York Rivers, as well as several sporting goods stores. In the past ten years, the program has expanded to other locations including the Mattaponi River, Little Creek Reservoir, and sites in Deltaville, Virginia.
“Virginia Sea Grant funding has made an impact on this environmental issue,” Batten said.
The collected line and spools are packaged by Flotilla 67 member David Milby and sent to the Berkley fishing tackle company to be recycled into fish habitat structures. The program keeps these items out of landfills and, more importantly, out of Virginia’s waterways where discarded line can wreak havoc on fish, turtles, birds, and other wildlife that get entangled.
The recycling program highlights Flotilla 67’s commitment to protecting the environment, and the recycling stations educate the public about this mission and the proper way to dispose of used fishing line.
Photos by Lathan Goumas | Virginia Sea Grant
Contributed photos courtesy of Wes Batten
Published July 28, 2023.
“Virginia Sea Grant funding has made an impact on this environmental issue,” Wes Batten said.
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