Fishermen kill more than fish
October 11th, 2006 by admin
This weekend, environmental organizations in the Tampa area are hosting a “Monofilament Cleanup.” Any effort to clean up Florida’s shoreline is a good thing, but tiptoeing around the real issue doesn’t do animals any good in the long run.
Unfortunately, it is necessary to clean up the mess left behind by fishermen, but the only way to solve the problem of lost or discarded fishing line is to end recreational fishing.
The Beach Beacon newspaper reported that during last year’s cleanup event in Tampa Bay and Boca Ciega Bay, 45 pounds of monofilament line was collected (that’s over 2000 yards of line!). Tragically, 43 dead birds were also found entangled in line. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, monofilament line is the No. 1 killer of adult brown pelicans in Florida.
Thankfully, the number of people who enjoy torturing and killing fish (”fishing”) is declining in Florida.
What about the fish? Sadly, people who are shocked at the deaths of birds caught in fishing line often do not give a thought to fishermen’s intended target.
Sunday’s Los Angeles Times included an editorial by a biologist at Edinburgh University about efforts by scientist to “prove” that fish suffer when pulled out of water by hooks. Although some scientists still refuse to agree that fish feel pain (it’s difficult to prove what is going on in the mind of any animal, including humans), the biologist concludes, “I think that we should adopt a precautionary ethical approach and assume that in the absence of evidence to the contrary, fish suffer.” We agree! Click here to learn more about the cruelty of fishing.