Clean-up and Recycling of Marine Debris
The term “marine debris” describes any manufactured or processed solid materials that are either directly or indirectly disposed of or abandoned in the marine environment.  It is a global problem that comes in many forms, from small plastic bottles to large derelict fishing vessels.  However, efforts to reduce marine debris are underway in many states, including Texas.  For example, the Stewardship Program of the Mission-Aransas Reserve participates in the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) sponsored by Texas Sea Grant.  Monofilament is another name for the single-stranded, nylon fishing line used on most fishing reels and in the manufacture of fishing nets.  Most monofilament is non-biodegradable and can last for hundreds of years in certain environmental conditions.  Fishing line can end up in the aquatic environment in a variety of different ways, and when left in the environment, it poses a severe threat to wildlife.  The line is thin and often clear, so it is very difficult for birds and other animals to see.  As a result, it is very easy for them to become entangled.  Once caught in the fishing line, the animals may be injured or strangled, may starve to death, or may even drown.  Many animals, such as sea turtles, can also suffer severe health problems if they ingest the fishing line.  Monofilament also poses a threat to boaters if it becomes entangled in boat propellers or engines. 

The MRRP is a statewide program in Texas, as well as several other coastal states, and is designed to:  1) educate the public on the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment, 2) encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and 3) conduct volunteer monofilament line clean-up events.  The Mission-Aransas Reserve , with the help of local volunteers, maintains several indoor (tackle shops, bait stands) and outdoor (fishing piers, boat ramps) bins throughout the reserve boundary and watershed.  The recycled monofilament is collected from the bins and cleaned of hooks, leaders, weights, and trash by the volunteers.  The fishing line is then packed into boxes and mailed to Berkley Pure Fishing Company in Iowa.  Berkley melts the line down into raw plastic pellets that can be made into other plastic products such as tackle boxes, spools for fishing line, and fishing lures.  During its three year involvement in the MRRP, the Stewardship Program of the Mission-Aransas Reserve has collected and recycled over 250 lbs of monofilament. 

Characterize the Reserve Through Habitat Mapping
Coastal ecosystems contain a rich diversity of species and habitat types that provide an abundance of the world’s natural resources.  These coastal ecosystems also maintain a wealth of economic activity associated with recreation and tourism, waterborne commerce, and energy and mineral production.  This economic activity has been one of the driving forces behind increased population growth in coastal communities.  Approximately half of the United States’ total population is estimated to live in 673 coastal counties.  In many coastal ecosystems, population growth has resulted in pollution, habitat loss and degradation, overfishing, invasive species, and increased threats due to coastal hazards such as sea-level rise.  The increasing population density in coastal counties, combined with the fast-growing economy of these areas, makes the task of managing coastal resources very difficult.  With the nation’s coastal population expected to continue rising, the ability for coastal decision-makers to minimize impacts from population growth is essential.  For example, understanding the linkages between land use strategies and their effects on coastal-marine ecosystems is critical to the development of sound policies that can maintain the social, economic, and ecological values of our coasts. 

The Mission-Aransas Reserve is currently located within relatively undisturbed watersheds that support a healthy estuary with highly diverse habitats.  Recreation, tourism, and estuarine-dependent commercial and recreational fisheries play a key role in the local economy and are important contributors to the high quality of life in this region.  However, the area is currently experiencing rapid population growth due to its attractive and healthy environment.  For example, the population of Aransas County, which contains 75% of the Mission-Aransas NERR, has increased by 26% from 1990 to 2000.  This growth rate has resulted in strong community interest and involvement in maintaining the resource-dependent quality of life.  It also made this area an ideal location for the implementation of an integrated land-sea planning approach that would improve land use and resource management decisions. 

Under the leadership of the Stewardship Program, a partnership of university, government, non-profit, and commercial researchers were funded to develop and test an integrated land-sea planning toolkit within the watershed of the Mission-Aransas Reserve.  The toolkit consisted of software applications that shared a common platform (ESRI ArcGIS) and included:  1) CommunityViz for land use planning, 2) NatureServe Vista for ecological assessment and conservation planning, and 3) Non-Point Source Pollution and Erosion Comparison Tool (N-SPECT) for water pollution modeling.  The pilot project demonstrated the feasibility of using these three software tools together to model the combined effects of planning decisions on terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.  The results were designed to help inform the course of future growth and water management practices in Aransas County.  Local planners and resource managers were trained on the integrated toolkit and further training and workshops are planned.