FORH Recycles Fishing Line

The volunteer group Friends of the Refuge Headwaters has implemented a monofilament line recycling program on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in conjunction with the Berkley Conservation Institute.

Fishing line recycling receptacles have been placed at 10 boat landings and fishing areas on the Refuge to prevent littering of fishing line. Fishing line cannot be recycled by simply placing it in an at home recycling bin, it must receive treatment.

Line that isn’t properly discarded can last up to 600 years and is a hazard to boaters, swimmers, wildlife and fish. Fish and wildlife can easily be tangled or ingest discarded fishing line. When an animal is tangled, mobility can be restricted making it harder to find food and water. Ingestion can be dangerous as chemicals in fishing line can be poisonous or cause digestive problems. 

BCI has recycled more than 9 million miles of fishing line since 1990. Used fishing line along with milk cartons and soft drink bottles are made into artificial, underwater habitat structures for fish called Fish-Hab. These structures encourage plant growth and attract fish which live and feed in and around them.  

For more information or to locate a recycling receptacle, call John Carrier at 507-452-5272 or e-mail: pastor_carrier@mac.org.