North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth announced Wednesday that the town recently received the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Environmental Champion Award” for its efforts in reducing plastics in waterways and saving marine life.
In December, the town launched a program that placed fishing line receptacles at popular fishing locations to encourage fishermen to properly dispose non-biodegradable fishing lines.
“Each year our Bay Constables rescue sea birds and other marine life that have become entangled in discarded fishing line, and these fishing line receptacles help protect these creatures,” Bosworth said. “I thank the EPA for recognizing our efforts to reduce plastics in our waterways, protect our marine life and maintain a healthy ecosystem here in the Town of North Hempstead.”
Marine wildlife, including turtles, frogs, birds and small mammals, can get caught in the fishing lines and suffer injuries, or even die, according to the North Shore Audubon Society.
Mal Nathan, the town’s chief bay constable, said he has observed birds wrapped in fishing line that became entangled on telephone and light poles, causing their death.
The town is one of 40 recipients of the Environmental Champion Award this year throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the town press office.
“Each year the EPA recognizes those who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and enhancing environmental quality and public health, and the Environmental Champion Award is the highest recognition presented to the public by the EPA,” EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck said in a statement.
The fishing line receptacle program was a joint effort between Bosworth’s office, the town’s Office of Sustainability and the Bay Constable’s department.
The receptacles, the town press office said, are all made in-house for about $40 per receptacle.
In addition to the new receptacles, signs have been placed to instruct fishers how to dispose of old lines, with written instructions and easy to understand pictures.
