About the Program
NOAA and United Pier and Shore Anglers of Southern California (UPSAC) Fishing Line Recycling Program
Pacific Region; 2006
Presently discarded fishing line often finds its way into the marine environment, causing harm to marine life, habitat, and to water craft. A comprehensive line recycling program will help minimize this problem through a public education program combined with a line recycling system.
The UPSAC line recycling project is designed to provide high quality, low maintenance line recycling bins that can be installed on piers and in shoreline areas along California’s coast. The project goal is to eventually have a minimum of at least one bin at every pier and at least one bin at every state, county and local beach. The project has adopted appropriate aspects of the successful Florida Fish & Wildlife Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program.Specifically, UPSAC has identified 40 locations and is installing 40 line recycling bins. Maintenance and public outreach about the program is being done by volunteer members from UPSAC. Bins have signage that identifies cooperating organizations, including NOAA.
This program is housed within NOAA Fisheries' Office of Constituent Services and is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
