Anglers, discarded line and the price paid by wildlife

[Steve C Cronin]

I do wish that anglers would not discard their lines both with and without hooks before trying to retrieve them. Several years ago, got two fish hooks embedded into my hand which had become entangled in one of my mooring warps on Preveza quay. Just last month my wife got one when pulling up the anchor in Vlikho Bay.

Now, this morning, the sad sight of one of the leatherbacks in Mesolonghi Marina entangled and drowned. Big fella he was, shell size about 3-4ft. After the Hellenic marine authority had examined him, he was carted away ignominiously on the prongs of a fork-lift truck.

 

[Tony Cross]

Is it not beyond the wit of many to make biodegradable fishing line? Obviously it would have to last a while for the fisher-folk to use it, but if it was subsequently lost it would break down and become harmless.

 

[KellysEye]

I spent many years sea fishing and never saw anybody discard line. However occasionally line can break when fighting a fish, usually somebody inexperienced, and there is nothing you can do to get the line back.

 

[Zen Zero]

I've had almost all my line taken by a bastard in a mobo passing (on the plane) too close astern while I was trolling down the West coast of Southern Italy. I hate to think what damage it might have caused, I do hope it all went round the bastard's prop! I've learned my lesson though and discovered you've got more chance of a bite the closer the lure is to the boat (within reason)!

 

[simon barefoot]

Its best applied to an outdrive