Texas Recreational Fisheries Marine Debris Removal and Prevention

Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program

Monofilament is a single-strand fishing line that is not biodegradable – it can last in the environment for over 600 years. Sea turtles, marine mammals, and other marine life can become entangled in the line or swallow it.

The Texas Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program (MRRP) was created in 2004 to keep fishing line out of the marine environment by encouraging anglers to recycle their monofilament at collector bins located throughout the Texas coast. Bins are installed at fishing piers, marinas, tackle shops, state parks, and other key locations. The MRRP is a coastwide initiative that is coordinated by Texas Sea Grant and is implemented through a network of partner organizations and volunteers. For more information or to volunteer with the MRRP, visit tx.ag/mrrp.

With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Texas Sea Grant is working to remove barriers to marine debris prevention in Texas recreational fisheries. This two-year program, which runs from September 2022 to August 2024, has the following objectives:

• Educate anglers and fishing guides about marine debris and actions they can take to reduce fishing-related marine debris through a series of workshops and outreach events
• Distribute Marine Debris Prevention Kits containing reusable items to reduce anglers’ and captains’ usage of single-use plastics during fishing activities
• Expand the Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program by installing new monofilament recycling bins at high-priority locations throughout the Texas coast

To date, the project has had the following accomplishments:

• Educated over 3,300 Texas coastal residents about marine debris and actions they can take to prevent marine debris
• Hosted 4 educational workshops in different coastal communities for members of the recreational fishing sector
• Hosted exhibits at 3 major annual events to conduct public outreach
• Created an educational Marine Debris Fact Sheet, available in English and Spanish (Vietnamese translation coming soon)
• Distributed 205 Marine Debris Prevention Kits to anglers, fishing guides, and deckhands
• Installed 20 new monofilament recycling bins, with many more to come

Thanks to the Following Partners for Their Support on this Project