Tackle the hazard of discarded fish lines 

Village of Brightwaters Mayor John Valdini recently alerted his constituents in an email to an ugly environmental problem in an otherwise lovely place.

People who come to fish at the village’s lakes sometimes leave fishing lines on or near the water. As a result, an osprey drowned last month after becoming entangled. A few days later, wildlife volunteers rescued a swan with a hook and bob lodged in its neck.

"We’ve had incidents just about every year where a swan or a goose will be affected by string or hook or carelessness on the part of the fishermen," Valdini told Newsday.

Of course, reckless fresh-water fishing practices are not confined to Brightwaters. They’ve been reported all over the region. In this case, those permitted to fish are 18 and under, at four out of the five village lakes. The number of kids fishing in the lakes has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than just swans and ospreys are hurt or killed. Among others, waterfowl, turtles, and raptors who hunt near water face similar hazards. Any animal or bird that gets entangled typically becomes involved in a painful struggle to escape. They suffer feather damage and lacerations from the constricting line, experts say. If trapped, they are unable to move, find food, or escape from predators. Ingestion of fishhooks is a chronic problem.

Fortunately, the solution is relatively simple. Fishers need to dispose properly of broken or leftover gear and not leave fishing lines, hooks, lures, or bait. Some places offer the public handy options such as fishing line recycling bins. We’re talking about avoiding the same type of carelessness by which people leave plastic bags and other debris at the beach, or throw trash from a car out on the road, or leave a campfire to smolder.

"The kids in the community go out fishing . . . and they don’t pay attention so much to where they cast," said Christine Miceli, a New York State wildlife rehabilitator with Strong Island Animal Rescue League. She was part of the team that rescued the swan in Brightwaters in June.

Rehabilitators are a key asset in conservation. For their part, officials of the state Department of Environmental Conservation advise that fishers cut line as close to the hook as possible, retrieve any cut lines, avoid casting near wildlife, and avoid feeding birds and animals. To report injured wildlife, the DEC urges you call one of its regional wildlife offices or a nearby wildlife rehabilitator.

Word-of-mouth should help. Politely and simply, tell friends and neighbors who enjoy our fine fishing spots about the harm that improperly discarded fishing tackle can cause. Teach the kids. Let's help conservation by the simple act of cleaning up after ourselves.