Trending
On April 5, thousands of Pennsylvania residents will haul rods and tackle boxes to the local lakes to catch their first trout of the new year. Fishing is a relaxing, yet exciting hobby shared by many families and friends across the state.
However, local lakes and waterways are being overtaken by pollution, specifically plastic, that harms the species living within them.
Though oceans are the most common topic of plastic pollution, this pollution is an immediate and relevant problem to the local area that, if not solved, will begin to impact the species present and the ability to continue fishing.
A newspaper shares that Raystown Lake, a popular fishing spot, has around 2,000 pounds of plastic removed from its shore annually. This plastic, when not removed, breaks down slowly, eventually into microplastics. These are small plastic particles that are unable to be seen by the naked eye.
Studies show plastic has been recorded to have been ingested by at least 427 different species of fish. The chemicals found in plastic can have harmful effects on the fish, causing sickness and death within populations. Then, when fish are caught and eaten, microplastics are ingested by humans, and the effects of these plastics are still unknown.
This season, take a bag out with you and collect any plastic that you see or use. If all citizens who fish do this, we can drastically reduce the amount of plastic waste in and around our waterways and help keep fishing alive.
Mikenzie Weaver
Tyrone