Check out this website on how you can become a sponsor/partner with DGIF to recycle fishing line and keep it off the shores of our beautiful rivers, lakes and ponds.
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/fishing-line-recycling/Where these tubes to collect fishing line are set up they have signs alerting fisherman to the danger of fishing line left behind. I have seen them at Amelia Wildlife Management Area by the boat ramp. Although they were overflowing with line and it was blowing out of the containers. A lot of the containers are installed by DGIF but others are from Fishing clubs, including high schoolers.
I think the "No littering" regulation would cover the discarding of line along the shores. You would have to ask a DGIF about that. But there are only so many Conservation Officers and they have an enormous area to cover and can't watch every fisherman. I would think it would be up to volunteers, citizen scientists, i.e. Master Naturalist, James River Foundation, Friends of James River, etc to help monitor the cleanup of these areas. So if you would like to volunteer or get your organization involved look at the above website and call DGIF (804) 367-1292.
Thanks Diane Jadlowski Publicity Chair Richmond Audubon Society On 2/18/2011 1:34 PM, Nancy Ambler wrote:
Horrors! I am trusting someone with physical know-how and resources
greater than mine will assist this beautiful, helpless bird and
possibly, if necessary, get it to the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro.
This situation raises a related issue: Does anyone know if 1) there
currently are signs posted warning those fishing at/using
state/federal boat ramps to launch boats from which they fish that
fishing line tossed overboard is a potential killer and 2) if such
signs are posted, are fines imposed on those who violate any
state/federal laws prohibiting such discarding of such line and 3) if
there are no such laws and/or signs might we who love birds and other
creatures threatened by such line work to regulate the indiscriminate
discarding of line?
Thanks to anyone who can provide information on point-
Nancy Ambler
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Pamela Smith <mailto:psmith926@xxxxxxxxx>
*To:* va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent:* Friday, February 18, 2011 12:02 PM
*Subject:* [va-richmond-general] Mute Swan at Dutch Gap
Conservation Area
A Mute Swan visiting Dutch Gap's Wetlands has rows of fishing line
wrapped around its neck and needs help. I watched it fly in
yesterday at noon and it stayed near the first observation deck as
you enter the Wetlands area. Can someone please contact an
appropriate person or group to help this creature? I talked with
Noel Losen, Chesterfield County Outdoor Program Manager, and he
said he would try calling Audubon people so I am reaching out to
this community. Below is a link to my Picasa album showing
different views. The swan is friendly and will come up to people
with treats or cracked corn ~.
https://picasaweb.google.com/psmith926/DutchGapWetlandsSwan?authkey=Gv1sRgCLHDvrObhJn-gAE&feat=directlink
<https://picasaweb.google.com/psmith926/DutchGapWetlandsSwan?authkey=Gv1sRgCLHDvrObhJn-gAE&feat=directlink>.
Pamela Smith
