Ansonia sets good example with recycling tubes for unused fishing line

Most people would jump at the chance to get rid of a killer if it was legal and brought no harm to them or their family by doing so. There is a lethal killer drifting from town-to-town and city-to-city in Connecticut. It is silent, nearly naked to the eye, and most people would walk right past the innocent-looking offender without giving it a second thought.

Sometimes, the deadly killer simply lies in wait for its unsuspecting victims.

But maybe if people understood the danger, they would take a few seconds to ensure the eco-systems in our communities continue to thrive despite man-made obstacles impeding their existence.

The killer is used fishing line, commonly referred to as the “translucent killer.”

The strong, single-line manmade fiber called monofilament is pretty-much invisible underwater — and nearly indestructible — which is why fishermen love it and it has remained popular since hitting the market during the 1950s.

But it also explains why it is a menace to wildlife if not disposed up properly, because once wildlife becomes entangled in it — whether on land or water — they can’t break free. That can lead to drowning and starvation and also leaves them defenseless against predators.

Not enough fishermen are recycling their lines and it is having deadly consequences.

Dave Connelly, Ansonia’s IT director, who also is an instructor for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education, said if the line is not properly discarded, it “can exist in nature for 800 years.”

Here in Connecticut, it is the culprit behind the recent deaths of two osprey, according the DEEP’s website. But it is a problem everywhere.

The National Marine Fisheries Service reports between 2000 and 2012, there was an average of 11 large whales annually entangled in line floating around the ocean along the west coast. Around the world, it is the same for smaller wildlife such as seals, turtles, birds and fish that are also injured and killed in the same manner.

DEEP — with a little help from Ansonia and 21 other towns in Connecticut — is spreading the word about the importance of recycling used fishing line.

To help tackle the problem in the Valley, Ansonia installed fishing line recycling tubes at Colony Pond, Redwing Pond and the Ansonia Nature Center two years ago, as a convenient way to collect used fishing line. The disposed fishing line is then sent to a company that recycles it to make underwater habitat structures for fish, according to DEEP’s website.

Since March, DEEP officials said 35 recycling receptacles have been set up around Connecticut.

That certainly shows state and local officials recognize there is a problem and are doing something about it. But Connecticut has a lot more cities and towns where fishing lines are cast during the fishing season — so a lot more effort is needed.

Outdoor activities make the environment our playground but it is also the source that maintains us and affects every area of our lives.

We all have to do our part to ensure the wildlife that are part of our communities are protected by removing dangerous and potentially dangerous man-made objects we put in their environment. Recycling unused fishing line takes mere seconds but adds years to the lives of wildlife.

Connelly hopes to install more tubes near fishing holes throughout Ansonia in the future.

Ansonia and 21 other towns are setting a good example by having recycling tubes for unused fishing line.

Other towns and cities should follow suit.