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NAPLES - Continuing a commitment to preserve Florida’s environment, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWCC) to protect valuable habitat for a variety of birds and other wildlife
at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
The ABC Islands, a mangrove island cluster located in the reserve just north of Marco Island, has
served as a bird rookery for more than 100 years. The FWCC designated these islands as a Critical
Wildlife Area (CWA) in 1993 because of growing threats to the islands’ native species, including
habitat loss, food scarcity related to water quality issues and human disturbance.
“It’s critical that area fishing enthusiasts, boaters and paddlers pay attention to signs and use
common sense by avoiding restricted areas and disposing of trash and fishing line appropriately when
visiting the reserve,” said Gary Lytton, Reserve Manager at Rookery Bay Research Reserve.
Birds using the islands as night roosts and annual nest sites include several listed species of
special concern, including the little blue heron, snowy egret, tricolored heron, white ibis, brown
pelican and others.
Signs alerting boaters and paddlers of the area’s status as a ‘no entry’ zone were installed in
2004 to minimize disturbance to the birds from boaters. However, the reserve reports that
entanglement from fishing line and trash continues to be a problem.
“On average, four to five citations and 12 to 15 written or verbal warnings per year are issued
for violation of the entry rules to the critical wildlife area,” said Lieutenant Wayne Maas of the
FFWC.
In an effort to promote responsible fishing line disposal in the county, a Monofilament Line
Recycling Program was implemented in 2006, and subsequently, more than two dozen bins have been
placed around Collier County.
“About 400 pounds of line have been collected,” said Florida Sea Grant Agent Bryan Fluech, who
led the program’s implementation. “Even if they do not fish regularly, people see the bins and
realize that throwing line on the ground or in the water is not the right thing to do.”
Fluech has also facilitated workshops where fishing enthusiasts learn the proper method of
releasing unwanted catch including birds. They are instructed to gently reel in the bird, cover it
with a towel and either dislodge the hook or cut the line as close to the bird as possible before
releasing. This will prevent the bird from flying off with trailing yards of line and entangling
other birds entering the rookery.
The following tips will help protect wildlife while fishing:
- Designate an area where trash can be stored on board your boat.
- Secure all loose items so they do not blow overboard.
- Never throw anything overboard including plastic, paper, unwanted food items, etc.
- Remove hooks from hooked birds, or if that is not possible, cut the line as close to the
bird as possible. Another option is to carefully bring the bird to a local rehab center where a
professional can remove the hook. Call (239) 262-CARE in Collier County or (239) 472-3644 in
Lee County.
- Practice ‘catch-and-release’ fishing whenever possible.
- Recycle your fishing line and trash after the fishing trip in a designated bin or to find a
local a recycling location near you, visit
http://www.fishinglinerecycling.org.
Rookery Bay Reserve was established in 1978 as a partnership between the state of Florida and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The reserve is one of 27 research reserves
operating across the nation. DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) manages
Rookery Bay Reserve along with aquatic preserves, two other National Estuarine Research Reserves and
the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. CAMA’s programs and activities are designed to help
Floridians better understand and conserve the state’s resources through research, education and
conservation.
To view a map of ABC Islands that shows where the no entry zone signs are located, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/07/files/abc_signs.jpg.
Please click on the image to make it larger.
For more information about the reserve, please visit
www.rookerybay.org. For more information
about Florida’s Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/.
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2012 State of Florida