The TAngler Bin project is a recreational fishing line recovery scheme. This project is the first statewide operation in Australia to address the issues connected with lost and littered recreational fishing line.

These issues include;

• Death and injury to wildlife
• Fish habitat destruction and degradation
• Pollution of the marine and coastal environment
• Degradation of recreational fishing spots, and subsequent loss of quality recreational fishing experience
  

The NSW Department of Primary Industry and local authorities have identified the coastal locations, where lost and littered fishing line is of concern. The project aims to install the specifically designed TAngler Bins to as many of these areas as possible.

Bin installation will be combined with a targeted education campaign to encourage the recreational fishing community to bin their line in the TAngler Bins. The education message is important so that recreational fishers understand that keeping their fishing spots tidy and free of lost and littered fishing line is linked with keeping the NSW recreational fishing experience great. Assisting OceanWatch Australia with this education process will be the wider NSW recreational fishing industry, the DPI Fishcare Volunteers, local fishing clubs and bait and tackle shops, through project partnerships.

Because of different locations, facilities and levels of access, Local Councils are able to engage in the project through three levels of participation.

These levels are as follows.

Level 1 - Blue Council

• Council endorses TAngler Bin Project aims.
• Council promote project through use of TAngler Bin Stickers on council bins at key recreational fishing spots. This is in order to encourage local recreational fishers to bin their unwanted line and keep the council’s fishing spots tidy.

Level 2 - Green Council

• Council endorses TAngler Bin Project aims.
• TAngler Bin Project is partially adopted by Council.
• Council promote project through use of TAngler Bin Stickers on council bins at key recreational fishing spots. This is in order to encourage local recreational fishers to bin their unwanted line and keep the council’s fishing spots tidy.
• Although unable to adopt TAngler Bin Project fully, the Council allows the TAngler Bins to be adopted by local community groups and installed on council land. The local community group collect the line, and forward to OceanWatch Australia for recycling
• Council participate in project education and promotional work in connection with project activities.

Level 3 - Golden Council

Council endorses TAngler Bin Project aims.

• TAngler Bins Project is fully adopted by Council.
• Council is a Project Partner. Activities including;
  • Council to install the TAngler Bins
  • Council workers to collect the line
  • Council employees to forward the line to OceanWatch Australia for recycling.
• In partnership with OceanWatch Australia, the Council promotes the education and awareness of the community to project goals through information and activities
  

The removal of lost and littered fishing line from the marine and costal environment, and the public education message of the importance of keeping our fishing spots tidy are the primary aims of this project. In addition, where possible, the fishing line will be collected, sent to OceanWatch Australia and recycled.

The project has been successfully trialed in conjunction with Noosa Shire Council, and is based upon the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program.

Participating Councils currently include:-

Rockdale City Council
Tweed Shire Council
Hornsby Shire Council
Wollongong City Council
Kempsey Shire Council
Pittwater Council

Download the TAngler Bin Information Sheet [373 kb pdf]

Download the TAngler Bin Poster [858 kb pdf]

For More Information about this project contact Lowri Pryce on (02) 9660 2262

The TAngler Bin Project has been assited by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust and the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust