World-wide Beach Clean Up...Guess Who Gets Slammed?

[saltandsand]

Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_re_us/beach_debris

Before you review, take note that fishing debris is noted five times yet smoking debris is only noted four times. Yet by their own admission smoking is cited as 33 percent of the cause and fishing a mere 6.3 percent. Then note how disparagingly they talk of fishing debris. Yet the whopper is 57 percent related to shoreline recreational activity and this debris or its activity is poorly defined.

Here's there chart, note it doesn't even identify fishing related items:

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i30.tinypic.com/1xxifs.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

FISHING IS UNDER ATTACK.

[saltandsand]

Rather than espouse upon energy independence and efficiency, the same APA correspondent says we ought to use the oil reserves. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080411/APA/804110632 He seems to loose his temper when it comes to what oil has done to the environment.

[saltandsand]

I tried looking up an e-mail address for the author of the article. Got this far, http://www.americanpressassociation.com/ if you can find it PM me. I'd like to let him know that he did not take into account the ethic rule of fine fisher people, that is "take more trash out than you brought in."

[rattler]

I smoke, and do not leave my but...nor at work...I have never dumped my ashtray at the light, and blow the dang horn when I see some IDIOT do it...I leave the pier/ beach cleaner than when I arrived...just ME...

[Fireball]

Gary....Everyplace you leave is cleaner just by you having left !!!!


Just Teasing !!!

[SmoothLures]

I think most fishermen do leave the beach (and other fishing spots) cleaner than when it was when they go there. It's the few that ruin it for everyone and it's absolutely pathetic what they do.

[saltandsand]

I think most fishermen do leave the beach (and other fishing spots) cleaner than when it was when they go there. It's the few that ruin it for everyone and it's absolutely pathetic what they do.


Don't know about the support for this comment but here's what I tell my children:

97 percent of the people are honest and try to always do the right thing, 2 percent are out right liars, and the other 2 percent don't even try. Been telling them that for awhile till one day my daughter says "Dad, that adds up to 101 percent, and that's not possible." My response is the other 1 percent are for those that never make mistakes.

Being in the 97 percent it's my opinion that we need to make our position known and that we spend effort to clean up after the irresponsible 3 percent. And in this case the 3 percent is not only fisher people but others who trash the place.

[SmoothLures]

I agree. Every fishermen should be telling their fishing buddies, children, and parents if need be to clean up after themselves. But I applaud you for teaching your kids right.
Being able to fish is a privledge, especially on public beaches, most take that for granted.

[Fishman]

Gary....Everyplace you leave is cleaner just by you having left !!!!


Just Teasing !!!

LOL :D LOL :D LOL :D

Good one Howie LOL

[saltandsand]

YESTERDAY:

I'm pulling together a fishing trip for boy scouts. I call DNR who refers me to the park. I ask if there is anyway to reserve parking. In process I talk about the day's activities which include collecting 10 leaves and 10 rocks (small rocks because the child will carry them while on the hike.) Then we fish and finish with cleaning up trash on the way out.

The jack park ranger says: Parking is first come, first served, no exceptions other than the clean up group. Then he tells me the land is state property, can't take any leaves or rocks without having a permit. Then says don't take trash either and tells me that if we want to clean up then we have to register with the organization that does that. What a bunch of bureaucratic non-sense.

Guess I'm supposed to tell my kids...uh step over that trash because you can't pick it up unless you have permission from the authorities.

Like to know when the last time they wrote a ticket for littering.

[narfpoit]

Yeah they have to cover their tail because if one of your boys gets injured picking up a dirty needle or some other dangerouse piece of trash then they might be liable. Also collecting rocks and leaves is a no no because it is a park but you should be able to gather the same plants and rocks outside of the park with out a problem.

[SmoothLures]

That's sad. I'd write a few emails to the top people of the State Parks. Probably won't get anything done about it but at least you did your part.

[Lipyourown]

The fact is that fishing line kills all sorts of things...easily... and it stays around for a long time. Not as long as cigarette butt though but I never saw a cigarette butt kill something. I see both every place I fish. I think most folks here and on other boards clean up but a few bad apples make us all look bad. You gotta educate the slobs. Try not to break your line off at the reel when snagged.

That stuff about the Park Ranger is lame, maybe he is new.

[Drumdum]

The NPS can no longer use "common sense" to solve any problem of any kind,no matter how small or big.. You see they don't run the laws,niether does the Dept of Interior.. If they come up with a plan or solution,it will be taken to court by a special intrest group....

[OtterPop]

I put my butts in crab holes , That way they can enjoy the same satisfaction I get . I roll my own so , there is no left over filter .

As for the whole garbage thing though it goes WELL beyond this . I think the discovery channel has a program coming up called the human footprint
you would be amazed at the garbage we leave behind .

Just because it is going in a landfill does not mean the garbage isnt there . All we can do is try not to leave behind items which harm wild life.


( as for whole glass bottles , a lot of different sea creatures use those as shelters . as ugly as some might be its not really "harmful" )

[ilovetherock]

i am a fisherman (of course), but I am more of a hunter. it is my passion. Why cant hunters use lead shot anymore (with good reason) but fisherman can use lead sinkers that are way bigger than a whole lot of shot shells. Seems double standard. They should use non toxic sinkers and invent a biodegradable fishing line in my opion. Dont get offended, you know it makes PERFECT sense. Thanks.

[ilovetherock]

on second thought... is braid enviro-friendley? Weve all lost 100+ yards of mono wth 3+ oz. lead on the end tons of times, it just makes sense to find a better way.

If you break that table down, its basically all PLASTIC. that is the problem.

[saltandsand]

Braided fishing line was once made from natural fibers but not anymore. Now it's made out of fibers that are woven and chemically they are no more environmentally friendly than mono. FYI: Fly line is made of PVC, a highly enduring product not likely to be worn away by natural effects.

Concerning lead here's New York; the last sentence tells you how serious they are. On May 7, 2004, the sale of lead sinkers and split shot weighing one-half ounce or less was prohibited in New York State. This prohibition does not include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads. This regulation does not prohibit the use of lead sinkers under one-half ounce; it only prohibits their sale in the state.

I hear your point, if lead is prohibited for hunting then why not fishing. Good point.

[insttech1]

Being able to fish is a privledge, especially on public beaches, most take that for granted.

I must say I disagree with this. Fishing is a right; and some states have even written it into their constitutions as such (Minnesota, for example....).

Now granted, many resources have multiple uses by multiple groups that absolutely despise each other (hunter vs. non-hunters in state parks....use of ORV on beaches....fishermen vs. swimmers....the list goes on...), but if you view your use of your public land as a privelege vs. a "right", then you can be that much more apt to lose your priveleges...

Sorry...just my two cents, based on dealing with zealots that are not in authority telling me I have "no right" to hunt or fish where it is openly posted as allowed by Michigan law...even in sight of DNR signs stating the approval!!!:mad:

(I will add in here that I do support some state input, legislative or otherwise, to ensure the acceptance of other "rightful" or "sensical" practices, and safe use of the resources....we are simply getting too crowded anymore, and obviously every group involved is more than ready to take to the courthouse and find a sympathetic judge to support their agendas....).

Take Care,
Marc

[rattler]

I spent 10 long cold years in MI...hunting and fishing...everyone I knew was poaching both fish and deer...there is 0 enforcement do to a "my friend,cousin, brother, etc...my X brother-in-law had 8 hanging by day 2 of opening deer season...he used to send a 14yr old kid to get salmon from this little stream down the street and pay him $5 each...these were big spawners...and he would sell the eggs to the local bait shop...GEEZZZ I hated Michigan...pretty country but I'll never go back...

[insttech1]

I agree with you--there is a disproportionate amount of idiots around...with a larger concentration in up North on public land/waters.

They are the ones that give the rest of us a black eye in public--and in public court hearings--when it comes to resource utilization.

The only good thing up here, is the licenses are comparatively cheap, so even some of the poaching :cool:idiots buy them, therefore putting a few $billion collectively into the economy per year.

That money, plus the state getting sued by insurance companies for car/deer collisions (NOT kidding--it's happened!) for not killing the herd off...keeps the state happy to support the traditions of fishing and hunting.

So I guees I'm off my soap box....just saying my point is the land is there for all of us to use, and I'll gladly hand my license over to an officer with a friendly "hello" for a site check, over dealing with a moron saying "you can't be here" because he just has an agenda that he doesn't want me there....and that's why Michigan put in an enforced sportsman-harassment law, and they do ticket for it.

See Ya,
Marc

[dirtyhandslopez]

no 1. small split shot shot be outlawed(I am guillty of using them because is see little options available when light tackle bobber fishing)because our feathered friends ingest them while foraging.
No. 2. If i was a millionaire, I would be buying up landfill sites, because that's where most of our good stuff that cant be replaced will be when we run out.
Wave a big 'ol magnet above a landfill, and hey presto, loadsa steel. Wood won't deteriorate, copper will be there ad nuaseum...Just gotta watch out for the baby poo in the diapers:)