Pelicans suffer significant injury and death from monofilament fishing line entanglement. Welfare-conscious fishing practices and line collection programs protect these magnificent birds.
Fishing line entanglement in pelicans causes severe welfare harm. Lines wrapping around the mandible prevent feeding, causing starvation that may take days to weeks. Lines around wings prevent flight, preventing escape from weather and predators. Lines cutting into limbs cause tissue damage and infection. Pelicans that appear healthy on the water may have invisible entanglement causing slow internal injury. Rescue operations require kayaks or boats to approach entangled birds, which is stressful for the bird and may cause flight attempts that worsen entanglement. Prevention through proper line disposal is the most welfare-effective intervention — monofilament recycling tubes at popular fishing spots provide convenient responsible disposal.