A New Twist to the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program PERSONAL -SIZED RECYCLING BINS

1. A New Twist to the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program�PERSONAL -SIZED RECYCLING BINS Bryan Fluech, Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS Dawn Miller-Walker, ECO Kim Bassos-Hull, Mote Marine Laboratory�s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program

2. Funding Provided By� In recent years, the SDRP has documented increased incidents of dolphins stalking fishing boats, waiting for released fish, and depredating (stealing bait or catch) from fishing lines from both piers and boats. In addition SDRP has received numerous reports and feedback from local charter guides, recreational anglers and eco-tour operators about the increase in incidence of dolphins approaching fishing boats. This increased interest is thought to have been reinforced by angler behavior such as feeding dolphins, an illegal activity under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, and releasing catch near dolphins. A consequence of these actions has been increased numbers of dolphins being injured or killed by ingestion of gear, active entanglement in lines, and discarded fishing gear. During 2006 the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program recorded a record loss of dolphins from mortality associated with fishing gear, 2% of the population. That would be an unsustainable loss if it continued at that rate for many years. � In recent years, the SDRP has documented increased incidents of dolphins stalking fishing boats, waiting for released fish, and depredating (stealing bait or catch) from fishing lines from both piers and boats. In addition SDRP has received numerous reports and feedback from local charter guides, recreational anglers and eco-tour operators about the increase in incidence of dolphins approaching fishing boats. This increased interest is thought to have been reinforced by angler behavior such as feeding dolphins, an illegal activity under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, and releasing catch near dolphins. A consequence of these actions has been increased numbers of dolphins being injured or killed by ingestion of gear, active entanglement in lines, and discarded fishing gear. During 2006 the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program recorded a record loss of dolphins from mortality associated with fishing gear, 2% of the population. That would be an unsustainable loss if it continued at that rate for many years. �

3. Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program Goal 1: Heighten awareness about the negative impacts that fishing line debris has on human welfare, marine life, and water quality. Goal 2: Decrease the amount of fishing line entering and remaining in the natural environment. Goal 3: Increase the amount of fishing line being recycled. The Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program (MRRP) is a statewide effort to educate the public on the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment, to encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and to conduct volunteer monofilament line cleanup events.The program was initiated with funding from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Advisory Council for Environmental Education and involves partnerships as the key to its success. �The Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program (MRRP) is a statewide effort to educate the public on the problems caused by monofilament line left in the environment, to encourage recycling through a network of line recycling bins and drop-off locations, and to conduct volunteer monofilament line cleanup events.

4. Pilot Project Goals Increase outreach efforts that educate anglers on dolphin-friendly fishing practices Expand the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) by providing anglers with additional opportunities to responsibly dispose of their excess fishing line. �

5. Personal-Sized Recycle Bins Tennis ball cans MRRP stickers Sponsor stickers Velcro strip Educational brochures MRRP pencil Survey reminder

6. Mini-Bin Costs Depending on the types and numbers of stickers you get, you can expect to pay approximately $1-2 per can.Depending on the types and numbers of stickers you get, you can expect to pay approximately $1-2 per can.

7. Installment

8. Benefits Enhancement of MRRP Mobile Noticeable Close in time and space to desired action Encourages positive behaviors Community involvement Prompts are reminders to do something we might otherwise forget: When people are motivated and want to remember: Where do you place prompts as reminders? Make noticeable must attract attention Self-explanatory all needed information Close in time and space to where the action is to be taken�stickers on dishwashers and washing machines reminding people to wash full loads. Encourage positive behaviors Prompts are reminders to do something we might otherwise forget: When people are motivated and want to remember: Where do you place prompts as reminders? Make noticeable must attract attention Self-explanatory all needed information Close in time and space to where the action is to be taken�stickers on dishwashers and washing machines reminding people to wash full loads. Encourage positive behaviors

9. Bin Construction Assembly Line *make sure there is enough room below the Velcro to put on the MRRP website sticker. Id recommend having other volunteers remove the labels from the tennis ball cans ahead of schedule to make your assembly line run more smoothly. If you can�t, this can be a station in itself. You will need to arrange your assembly line stations based on the number of students you have. In the case highlighted above, we had 2-4 people per station. When I did this with a high school class, we had about 4-5 kids per station and we had two different assembly lines going at once. The 4-H group took about 3 hours to construct approximately 500 bins My high school groups finished about 250-300 bins in a fifty minute class*make sure there is enough room below the Velcro to put on the MRRP website sticker. Id recommend having other volunteers remove the labels from the tennis ball cans ahead of schedule to make your assembly line run more smoothly. If you can�t, this can be a station in itself. You will need to arrange your assembly line stations based on the number of students you have. In the case highlighted above, we had 2-4 people per station. When I did this with a high school class, we had about 4-5 kids per station and we had two different assembly lines going at once. The 4-H group took about 3 hours to construct approximately 500 bins My high school groups finished about 250-300 bins in a fifty minute class

10. Bin Construction Assembly Line *It was very common to have back ups as kids will work at different paces. Make sure you have adequate space for all the cans. Depending on the number of kids Prepare for you room to get messy! Have each station be responsible for cleaning the station they worked at. *It was very common to have back ups as kids will work at different paces. Make sure you have adequate space for all the cans. Depending on the number of kids Prepare for you room to get messy! Have each station be responsible for cleaning the station they worked at.

12. Bin Distribution Fishing Piers Fishing Clubs Tackle Shops Festivals Train the trainer events* Volunteers Ecotour Series Florida Master Naturalist Program To date, approximately, 1300 mini bins have been distributed by the Collier Sea Grant Agent and his volunteers in Collier County. As a result of Kim Hull speaking at the SW Florida Ecotour Provider series, the director of the program adopted the idea of the mini-bins and has distributed over 500 bins to kayakers and fishermen in Lee County.To date, approximately, 1300 mini bins have been distributed by the Collier Sea Grant Agent and his volunteers in Collier County. As a result of Kim Hull speaking at the SW Florida Ecotour Provider series, the director of the program adopted the idea of the mini-bins and has distributed over 500 bins to kayakers and fishermen in Lee County.

13. Assessment Efforts

14. Survey Results 3% response rate (n=27) However�.. 77% used the bins to store used line 86% on boats 11% on private dock/pier 3% on person Only 15% of respondents indicated they weren�t already aware of the impacts discarded fishing line has on marine life 37% of respondents did not know their monofilament line could be recycled Survey results were based out of the first 1,000 bins.Of the 20% who said they have not used the bins, half indicated they had not gone fishing yet.Survey results were based out of the first 1,000 bins.Of the 20% who said they have not used the bins, half indicated they had not gone fishing yet.

15. Survey Comments Thank you Bryan for the container. I put in the boat as I walked thru the garage after the NFC meeting. The next day we were fishing and suddenly there is a big tangle of line, cut-cut, retie the knots and put the line in the container where I keep in under the console. I have used it 3 times in 4 trips. Distribute at launch sites. This is a great idea. Good to have for discarding while on boat. Bin is very convenient. Usually I come back from fishing with at least one pocket with line in it I don't find to recycle until it comes out of the washer. Let more fishermen and women know about the recycling of fishing line through the media . Make the recycling bins available at marinas. Most pieces I dispose of are very short, less than 2 feet. maybe emphasize even small pieces ie trimming after tying a knot should be disposed thoughtfully. all your pictures seem to show a giant tangle, like putting all new line on a reel.

16. LESSONS LEARNED! Quality Control Localize Your Bins Where to drop off line Local Resources Find community partners! Although its great to get students involved, make sure you check that stickers and Velcro are being put on straight and even. I have had to go back and redo bins b/c the stickers were messed up or the Velcro wasn�t on correctly. A big lesson I learned is you need to tell people where to take their line. Not everyone knows this. Lee County put local resource numbers that would be of use to a boater as well as local wildlife rehab centers Partner with as many agencies as possible to spread the word about the bins and get the word out. Although its great to get students involved, make sure you check that stickers and Velcro are being put on straight and even. I have had to go back and redo bins b/c the stickers were messed up or the Velcro wasn�t on correctly. A big lesson I learned is you need to tell people where to take their line. Not everyone knows this. Lee County put local resource numbers that would be of use to a boater as well as local wildlife rehab centers Partner with as many agencies as possible to spread the word about the bins and get the word out.

17. Stow It-Don�t Throw It� Project The Stow It-Don�t Throw It project is the result of 4-H members taking the mini-bin idea and expanding it statewide. It�s a great example of how youth can get involved in promoting responsible fishing line recovery and recycling practices. Several thousands bins have been distributed as a result of this student�s efforts.The Stow It-Don�t Throw It project is the result of 4-H members taking the mini-bin idea and expanding it statewide. It�s a great example of how youth can get involved in promoting responsible fishing line recovery and recycling practices. Several thousands bins have been distributed as a result of this student�s efforts.

18. 2009 FMSEA Conference Sarasota, FL

19. The ECO Mini Mono Bin

20. Instructions

21. Multiple Uses!

22. ECO Outreach Efforts IGFA Sport fishing Programs Boy/Girl Scout Events Environmental Festivals Ethical Angling Programs 42 Cases of Tennis Ball Cans 1050 Mini Mono Bins Distributed! Here is the approximate breakdown of how many containers we have made (or others made them and took them as an activity) and given away: � Boy Scout Events (2 or 3 events�) = 175 Halloween Event = 125 IGFA Spring Camp = 30 IGFA Captains/School of Sportfishing = 20 Girl Scout Event = 100 Everglades, Environment and Ethical Angling Program (middle school students out doing our Everglades Experience program mixed with safe boating and ethical angling practices � special made program in partnership with a grant from IGFA/RBFF) = 200 IGFA Summer Camp = 400 � This all equals out to about 42 cases of tennis ball canisters, which is about 1050 mini-monofilament recycling containers since I attended your FMSEA presentation in May 2009! J Here is the approximate breakdown of how many containers we have made (or others made them and took them as an activity) and given away: � Boy Scout Events (2 or 3 events�) = 175 Halloween Event = 125 IGFA Spring Camp = 30 IGFA Captains/School of Sportfishing = 20 Girl Scout Event = 100 Everglades, Environment and Ethical Angling Program (middle school students out doing our Everglades Experience program mixed with safe boating and ethical angling practices � special made program in partnership with a grant from IGFA/RBFF) = 200 IGFA Summer Camp = 400 � This all equals out to about 42 cases of tennis ball canisters, which is about 1050 mini-monofilament recycling containers since I attended your FMSEA presentation in May 2009! J

23. Now Its Your Turn!

24. Thank You! Bryan Fluech (239) 417-6310 x204 fluech@ufl.edu Dawn Miller-Walker 954-809-1327 dwalker@eco-tan.org Kim Bassos-Hull (941)-388-4441 x 215 kbhull@mote.org