Coastal Issues | Marine Debris | Case Studies

Marine Debris: Case Studies

Below are a few examples of projects states have supported through coastal zone management funding to address marine debris.

Florida Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program (MRRP): The Florida Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program is a statewide effort to decrease the negative impacts of monofilament fishing line left in the environment by educating the public on the problems caused by monofilament fishing line.  The program encourages recycling through a network of outdoor monofilament line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and by conducting regular volunteer monofilament line cleanup events.

diver removing lines from coral

Improperly discarded monofilament fishing line can entangle coral, seabirds, marine mammals, and even humans. Here, a volunteer diver removes monofilament from a coral reef in the Florida Keys. Photo by Lazaro Ruda, courtesy of The Ocean Conservancy.

As an integral part of the program, the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program website is designed to provide the information and materials necessary to start and implement a monofilament recovery and recycling program in a new area.  Some of the materials available on the website include guidance on how to form a task force to develop the program, coordinate volunteers, advertise and budget for the program, work with the media, conduct cleanups, and collect recycling. 

Several states have used the guidance provided on the Florida Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program website to develop their own programs.  Other states that have developed programs include North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, and even the country of Bermuda.  These programs are typically conducted at the county or state level, but some have been initiated by non-profit organizations or fishing associations.  Most recycling bins are maintained by volunteers who empty the bins, collect the line, and send it to be recycled.  Recycled fishing line is melted down into raw plastic pellets that can be made into other plastic products including tackle boxes, spools for line, fish habitats, and toys. 

The Florida Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program is an innovative project that not only focuses on reducing the environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line, but also on encouraging the expansion of the program into other regions by providing all the tools and information necessary for starting a new program.  Florida has been a leader in monofilament recycling, not only by the sheer amount of line they collect, but through their stewardship efforts to expand the program to other states and nations.

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North Carolina Pier Litter Project: In 2003, the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, North Carolina Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Source Program, North Carolina Big Sweep, and The Ocean Conservancy joined together to create the "Pier Litter Project" to reduce marine debris associated with ocean fishing piers.

According to annual coastal clean up data, most of the debris on North Carolina’s beaches is from fishing activities.  Therefore, the North Carolina Big Sweep and The Ocean Conservancy, initially developed a pilot project targeting pier and angling debris.  The pilot project focused on six piers along southern North Carolina.  With additional support from the North Carolina Coastal Management Program and North Carolina Nonpoint Source Program, the Pier Litter Project was expanded to include all sixteen of the major ocean piers along the coast.  The North Carolina Coastal Management and Nonpoint Source programs also incorporated a fishing line recycling program into the Pier Litter Project.

Through the Pier Litter Project, the partner agencies and organizations also developed and distributed educational signage and brochures that describe the persistence of marine debris in the environment and its effects on wildlife.  The project also provides recycling bins on or near fishing piers and pocket ashtrays to encourage proper disposal of cigarette butts—another common trash item collected during beach clean ups. 

The Pier Litter Project has been very successful, receiving positive feedback from project partners, fishermen, and pier visitors.  Future plans for the project include expanding it to additional piers, and incorporating the educational and fishing line recycling components into coastal marinas and the North Carolina Clean Marina Program.  

 

 

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