FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2006
Contacts:
Ken Jones, President
United Pier & Shore Anglers of California
ken.jones@upsac.org
Marty Golden
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Marty.Golden@NOAA.Gov
Saltwater Sportfishing Group Working to Protect the Environment
The United Pier & Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administation (NOAA) annouced a
program to protect marine life by keeping used fishing line from
ending up in the ocean. The project is being made possible by a
grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Program (
www.marinedebris.noaa.gov).
The UPSAC will work cooperatively with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) to build, install and maintain fort Fishing Line Recycling Bins at saltwater piers and/or shore fishing (angling) locations in California. Fishing line discarded into the environment is very slow to degrade and may entangle diving birds, fish, invertebrates (crabs, lobsters, etc.), turtles, marine mammals, and even swimmers and divers.
Ken Jones, President of UPSAC, sadi, "The all-metal line recycling bins to be used for the project were develope by UPSAC and are based upon proto-type bins that have been installed and in use at Guadalupe Beach in Santa Barbara County for over a year." The bins will be place at piers and shoreline areas in souther and central California as agreements with local governing organization are obtained. Ken also noted that by visiting the UPSAC web site, you can track the program accomplishments and find the closest recycling bin.
The program manager for the project, Marty Golden, the NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Coast Recreational Coordinator was very excited about the project. He said, "This is a great example of the things that can be accomplished by the California Saltwater Sportfishing Action Team." Marty is the Chair of the Team, which is designed to build partnerships between angling organizations and between them, get various govertment agencies involved with marine resources to enhance the marine angling experience.
"Partnering with UPSAC, an organization committed to preserving pier and shore angling, can make a huge impact in reducing the amount of marine debris entering the ocean," says Holly Bamford, Program Manager for the NOAA Marine Debris Program. "We are glad to be part of this effort to increase recycling and strengthen marine debris prevention programs."
The NOAA Marine Debris Program works to support national, state local and international efforts to protect and preserve our nation's natural resources and coastal waterways from the impacts of marine debris.
The NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to providing and preserving the nation's living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management, and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries provides effective stewardship of these resrouces for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate- related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources.
UPSAC is the largest California fishing organization solely dedicated to the inshore fisheries associated with piers, surf, jetty and rocky areas. One of its goals is the eventual placement of line recycling bins at every pier and coastal shoreline area along California's coast.
On the web:
UPSAC: www.upsac.org/
NOAA Marine Debris Program: www.marinedebris.noaa.gov
NOAA: www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service: www.nmfs.noaa.gov
NOAA Recreational Fisheries Services Branch: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/recfish/index.htm