At Lake Campbell, folks are looking for the lunker. At Keystone Spit, fishermen are sending their lines out for salmon. And at Washington State University Extension in Coupeville, Waste Wise and Beach Watchers volunteer Jill Hein is fishing for the monofilament that remains when the fishermen have all gone home.

Hein was inspired to initiate a monofilament recycling program while doing research for a plastics reduction program with Waste Wise.

“I found out about the program when researching information for the plastics brochure, and figured it was something we should be doing here in Island County. Florida Fish & Wildlife were eager to share their knowledge. They they sent me information on how to get the program started, how to build the recycle containers and also supplied the stickers that we’re using,” she said.

Since the 1930s, plastic fishing line has been the fisherman’s best friend. It is both durable and enduring and has the added value of being nearly invisible. It disappears into the murky waters where the big fish lurk, waiting to become the fodder for fish tales around the dinner table. When lost, however, it remains in the murk, waiting to entangle unwitting passers-by.

Fish, fowl and marine mammals lose life, fin, and limb each year as a result of lost monofilament line. Humans, too, are affected by loosed line. Divers, swimmers, and boaters may all become entangled in this mess of monofilament.

“Monofilament, the miracle of anglers, is also the nightmare of marine life,” Hein said.

The Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program is an innovative project that began in Florida and is dedicated to reducing the environmental damage caused by discarded fishing line. According to this source, monofilament fishing line lasts up to 600 years in the environment. This invisible line, usually coupled with a barbed hook, can also obstruct the digestive tract of hungry marine life. And some plastics emit poisons that compromise a healthy marine environment.

The goal of Island County Beach Watchers and Waste Wise is to implement a monofilament recycling program supported by a grant from the Department of Ecology. To reduce the amount of monofilament fishing line left in the environment, the monofilament recycling team on Whidbey Island has put in place a pilot program around Whidbey Island to attempt to capture unwanted monofilament fishing line and recycle it.

“Most fishermen already clean up after themselves, but the good part about the program is that the line is not going into the trash, it will be recycled,” Hein said. “We’ve been greeted most enthusiastically by people when they see the containers, especially neighbors who live close to public access fishing beaches. I don’t think fishermen will be perturbed at all about the program. The Fly Fishing Club is fully behind it and we even have a couple of them monitoring containers.”

Hein and her husband Clarence fabricated recycle containers at home, and Jill coordinated installation at the busy fishing beaches and boat launch areas around Whidbey. The containers are made from PVC piping, are fairly light weight but sturdy, and ready to be installed. This year, they have installed 20 containers around Whidbey and hope to add more next year, expanding efforts to Camano Island. Monitors will check the containers weekly and collect the discarded fishing line. Ultimately, the mess of monofilament will be transported to a fishing line recycling outlet in Burlington.

Hein has ambitions for the program. “First I want to see the Whidbey program be successful, then expand to more beaches on Whidbey and to Camano Island. My utmost goal would be to expand this program throughout the state, primarily around the marine coastline, but birds, fish and people can become entangled whether it’s in salt water or fresh water. “

To learn more about WSU Extension’s Beach Watchers and Waste Wise programs, please call 679-7327 or visit www.island.wsu.edu/.