Hidden danger of fishing line and hooks
One of the many sea lions who lives at the Monterey Coast Guard Pier has a bad injury that makes him stand out.
In early September, the Marine Mammal Center rescued him after fishing line got wrapped around his neck. About three weeks later, the cuts around his neck are still visible.
“So he was one of the lucky ones,” Kim Worrell with Bay Net said. “He was actually rescued and released. But again, so many of them are not caught, and end up dying from these entanglements.”
Volunteers pegged the Coast Guard Pier as a problem spot for this about three years ago.
“I don’t know if it’s gotten worse, but it hasn’t gotten better,” Marge, with Bay Net, said.
Marge said in July alone, she collected 243 hooks. On Sunday, she collected at least four, plus a very large line on the pier.
Last year, volunteers added recycling bins along the fence, reminding anglers to recycle their hooks and line. Then, in May, volunteers started handing out personal recycling containers made out of old tennis ball containers that can be brought to and from the pier.
But even with these efforts, the problem persists. So, on Sunday, volunteers and the Coast Guard set up tents at the entrance of the pier to have face-to-face conversations to get the word out.
“We just want people to know that we want them to enjoy the Coast Guard Pier, and we like having them come down, but we also want to look out for the marine wildlife that’s in the area,” Executive U.S. Coast Guard Officer Taylor Smith said.
Fisherman Timothy Fridell, who just started fishing at the pier, says it’s easy to make a difference — anglers just need to remember to account for everything they bring before they leave.
“The Coast Guard Pier is a great pier. We have the sea lions down at the end, we have sea otters swimming by here everyday — all the birds and little creatures. We have to take care of them,” Fridell said.
Bay Net, NOAA, SPCA Wildlife Center, Marine Mammal Center, National Marine Sanctuary and USCG/ Auxiliary all participated in the event.
