TANGLE FREE WATERS - SORTING PARTY
Huge thanks to all who showed up to the first ever Tangle Free Waters Sorting Party!! What a great time we had sorting all that was collected this season!
One of the most frequent questions I got once we started advertising the party, was “What is a ‘Sorting Party’ and why does the line need to be sorted?” Let me explain. The line gets collected from the stations and sent to Berkely Fishing in Iowa for recycling. Since 1990, the Berkley Conservation Institute, has recycled more than 9 million miles worth of fishing line. The discarded line is made into new line, artificial fish habitat and artificial reefs to help protect young fish and replace habitat that has been degraded or destroyed one way or the other. In order for Berkley to process the line, it needs to be free of any sharp hooks, tackle, and other debris. Even though the station has “No Trash – Fishing Line Only” written all over, we often find people use the stations as garbage cans. At the Sorting Party, we spread the line out on tarps, grabbed our scissors and gloves, and carefully began cutting out all the stuff that needed to be removed. A ton of tackle was salvaged, and metal sinker weights removed from the line, keeping them out of the landfill.
When all was said and done, 30 pounds of monofilament fishing line was kept out of our waterways, away from entangling wildlife, and harming children and pets as they play on the shoreline. We sent three giant boxes off for recycling after the party. Whenever you have the opportunity, please use the collection stations located throughout the Eastern Sierra.
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.