Used line is repurposed into fish habitats and other products at no cost!

North Hempstead, NY – A recent incident in the Town of Babylon, in which a turtle was ensnared with a fishing hook and line and rescued by Town workers, is a reminder to all Town of North Hempstead residents to utilize the numerous fishing line receptacle around town. See article: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/turtle-hook-babylon-phelps-lane-park-1.20080680

In 2015 the Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth announced the Town’s fishing line receptacle initiative, which placed receptacles and signage around Town Dock in Port Washington and five other Town locations to urge fisherman to discard of any non-biodegradable monofilament fishing line properly. The receptacles, based on similar ones that the Town’s Chief Bay Constable Mal Nathan saw in Florida, are made in-house for about $40 each and feature colorful, educational signage.

In 2016 the Town received the Environmental Champion award by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 for helping to reduce plastics in the waterways.

According to the Audubon Society, monofilament fishing line is an amazingly strong substance that can snag and harm people and marine wildlife, including turtles, frogs, birds and small mammals.

“Each year our Bay Constables rescue turtles, sea birds and other marine life that have become entangled in discarded fishing line, and these fishing line receptacles help protect these creatures,” said Supervisor Bosworth.

Last year the Town has collected over 12 cubic feet (enough to fill about two large trash bags) of monofilament fishing line from receptacles located in six Town parks.

All of the fishing line that is been collected is sent to Berkley Fishing, a company in Iowa that has a program to repurpose the old monofilament into other products or into fish habitat structures. There is no charge for the recycling of the fishing line.

To view an instructional video on how to make a fishing line receptacle and for free downloadable sticker templates, go to www.northhempsteadny.gov/fishingline.

For more information about the Town’s environmental programs please call 311 or 516-869-6311.