Hang on to your tackle Pembrokeshire
MCS has teamed up with no fewer than ten organisations to pilot 'Hang on to your tackle' in Pembrokeshire, aimed at tackling angling litter in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Lost fishing line and tackle can remain in the environment for many years, ensnaring sea birds and other marine life. It's also a hazard for people enjoying the coast.
The scale of the problem has been highlighted by a group of local volunteer divers Neptunes Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC). They have removed and documented large amounts of lost monofilament line, hooks and weights from beneath popular angling spots, as well as the littering of angling ledges around Pembrokeshire. Lost tackle or discarded litter is a real hazard to wildlife and litter left on ledges is an unsightly hazard for other users. On just one day of diving at Stackpole Quay, they recovered 247 fishing weights and 450 hooks and associated line. On the same day they released 25 spider crabs, a lobster and a dog fish entangled in discarded line. The impacts to marine wildlife from entanglement in fishing line and ingestion of plastic waste in general are well documented by MCS.
The project aims to promote:
- taking all litter away from angling sites, and using purpose-made bins to dispose of litter at angling hot spots
- the use of correct angling techniques and gear to minimise loss of tackle by following the MCS 'Hang on to your tackle' Top Tips.
Help us to make this campaign a success by collecting any fishing line or tackle you find, and putting it into these specially designed bins located around the coast in Pembrokeshire. Bins are emptied by volunteers. If there is a bin in your area and you would like to help out please contact the Welsh Projects Officer.
Hang on to Your Tackle Top Tips:
The following advice is provided to encourage novice sea anglers to improve their fishing practises and mimimize tackle loss when fishing from rock ledges on the coast:
- Use a shock leader to avoid crack-offs when casting (10lb for every 1oz weight) or fish with heavier line straight through.
- Use sufficient weight or a grip lead to avoid your tackle drifting and when winding in use a fast, steady retrieve.
- A weak link or a ‘rotten bottom’ rig can help you retrieve line and hooks and a pulley rig will help keep your lead clear of snags.
- If you get snagged try a steady pull for a few seconds with the rod pointing at the snag. This can bend and tear hooks through weed.
- Try pulling from different angles if it is safe to do so. Don’t put yourself at risk trying to recover lost tackle; if possible retrieve it at low tide.
- Unwanted line should be disposed of at home or in bins provided. Cut the line into short lengths to prevent it becoming a hazard to birds.
Download the 'Hang on to your tackle' leaflet (PDF)
Top Tips stickers, leaflets, posters and further information available on request from Welsh Projects Officer anglingbins@mcsuk.org
Supported by:
This project was supported by grants from Environment Wales and the Peoples Postcode Trust.
