Discarded fishing hooks and line cause serious injury to pelicans, herons, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife; responsible gear disposal and barbless hooks significantly reduce harm.
Discarded fishing gear creates a persistent, diffuse source of wildlife injury that receives little regulatory attention relative to its welfare impact. Birds that swallow hooks or become entangled in line face prolonged suffering before death or rescue. Sea turtles and marine mammals entangled in monofilament face the progressive constriction injuries described in other entanglement contexts. Simple behavioral changes by individual anglers - disposing of line properly, using barbless hooks, and retrieving all gear - can significantly reduce this welfare harm with no reduction in fishing enjoyment.