St. Augustine Swordfish Marine Ecology 4-H Club Take Part in the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project!

The St. Augustine Swordfish Marine Ecology Team met over the summer to participate in the Stow It - Don't Throw It Project. The club's ten members assembled 100 containers during their meeting, and then distributed them at the National Marina Day the following weekend. The National Marina Day was a perfect venue for giving these containers to interested parties. Even the local pirates stopped by! See below for pictures of the club members assembling and distributing the personal-sized fishing line reyclcing bins!

- Submitted by Maggie Leach
Jr. Leader St. Augustine Swordfish
Marine Ecology Team

A great article about these 4-H members and their participation in the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project was published in the St. Augustine Record. Check it out at: http://staugustine.com/stories/083009/community_083009_006.shtml

Florida Aquarium Distributes Recycling Bins to Fishing Tournament and Summer Camp Participants!

Every year the Florida Aquarium hosts a catch and release fishing tournament. A new addition to the 2009 fishing tournament was to place a monofilament container, designed by Sean Russell and Mote Marine Laboratory, on each participating boat. The containers were assembled by staff members and handed out the morning of the tournament with directions on how to use the container. About 30 containers were distributed to local anglers who participated in the fishing tournament. Although it was a slow day on the water each boat took home a monofilament container!

During the summer of 2009 it was decided that “Fish Camp” campers should build a monofilament container to keep with them throughout the week. The supplies and directions for making the containers were purchased from Sean Russell before the start of summer camp. Throughout the week campers learned fresh and salt water angling, crabbing, seafood guidelines and also safe fishing practices. To enhance the safe fishing practices about 30 campers was given the supplies (tennis can, Velcro, zip tie, stickers) and made a monofilament container. An Aquarium staff member took the time to drill holes in the tennis ball cans and the lids. The overall goal was for each camper to carry their monofilament container and properly dispose of their excess fishing line. Each camper was allowed to keep their container at the end of the week. The campers seemed to enjoy making the containers and also understood the importance of proper monofilament disposal.

- Submitted by Tristin Ware, Florida Aquarium Education Camp Coordinator

Check us out on Facebook!

Become a fan of the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project on Facebook! Connect with other project participants, get updates on the project, share your group's involvement and more!

"Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Recognized by the Florida 4-H Community Pride Program

On July 29th, at Florida 4-H Congress, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project participants were recognized as the project was named one of the top five Florida 4-H Community Pride Projects in the state! "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Chair Sean Russell, spoke about the accomplishments of the project, and showed a slideshow highlighting the work of those involved at the Community Pride Luncheon. The Florida 4-H Community Pride Program provided the original funding for the project in November of last year through their grant program. Because of their generous support, and all of the hard work of our project participants and partners, the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project has become a huge success. A special thanks to the Florida 4-H Community Pride Program for their support and congratulations to all of the participants!

Mote Marine Summer Camp participants in the, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project

Participants in Mote Marine Laboratory's all new, Sea Sleuths summer camp, had the opportunity to help protect the marine life they learned about throughout the summer by assembling their own personal-sized fishing line recycling bin as part of the, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project. Each week approximately 20-25 campers took part in this activity, and also learned about the importance of recycling monofilament fishing line. Approximately 200 recycling containers were made through the efforts of these summer campers. A special thanks to the Mote Marine Summer Camp Staff for their support of this project!

Mote Marine Laboratory's Kids Fishing Clinic

On May 27th, Mote Marine Laboratory hosted a Kids Fishing Tournament at their Aquaculture Park for 5th grade students from Brentwood Elementary School. Participants took part in activities led by fishing experts, educators, and conservationists which taught them about fish biology, responsible fishing practices, fishing techniques and a variety of other topics. They were also given a chance to go fishing at one of the ponds on-site at Mote's Aquaculture Park. Lastly, they learned about Mote research and fisheries enhancement by going on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquaculture Park.

"Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Chair, Sean Russell, was able to speak to the participants about the importance of properly recycling their used monofilament fishing line. Each of the participants received a personal-sized fishing line recycling bin. These bins were assembled by Sarasota County 4-H members. A special thanks to Mote Marine Laboratory for their continued support of the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project!

Florida 4-H Camp Staff Get Involved in the Project

On May 25th, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Chair, Sean Russell, attended a portion of the Florida 4-H State Camp Staff Training to teach the 2009 Florida 4-H Camp Staff about the importance of properly recycing monofilament fishing line and how to assemble personal-sized monofilament recycling bins. Youth participating in select Florida 4-H Camping Programs this summer will have the opportunity to get involved in the, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project by assembling the personal-sized fishing line recycling bins as a camp craft and/or as a community service project. A special thanks to the Florida 4-H Camping Program for their support!

Sarasota County 4-H Members Meet to Assemble Recycling Bins

4-H Members from clubs throughout Sarasota County met on May 7th to assemble nearly 100 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins as part of the, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project. These bins were made to distribute to youth participating in an upcoming Kids Fishing Clinic put on by Mote Marine Laboratory.

Bradford County 4-H Clover Blossoms Club Assembles 100 Recycling Bins

Members of the Clover Blossoms 4-H Club in Bradford County are protecting wildlife through the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project by assembling 100 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins. Paynes Prarie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, FL was one of the places these completed bins were distributed.

Personal-sized Fishing Line Recycling Bins Distributed at the Sertoma Suncoast Kingfish Tournament

100 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins assembled by 4-H members in Sarasota County were distributed on April 3rd and 4th to each of the boats participating in the 2009 Sertoma Suncoast Kinfish Tournament which was held at Marina Jacks in Sarasota. These bins were funded by the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota. On April 4th, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Chair Sean Russell spoke with the crowd at the fish weigh-in about the importance of recycling monofilament fishing line. This was an excellent opportunity to spread the word about the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project and give anglers the personal-sized monofilanent recycling bins. We would like to thank the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota for their support of the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project!

Sarasota County 4-Hers assemble bins for the "Stow It-Don't Throw It Project"

On March 27th 4-H members from multiple clubs in Sarasota County met to assemble 100 personal-sized monofilament fishing line recycling bins. These bins were funded by the Sertoma Club of Greater Sarasota and were made so they could be distributed at the Sertoma Club's upcoming Kingfish Tournament.

Leon County 4-H Members Work on the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project

4-H members in Leon County are committed to helping wildlife through the "Stow It - Don't Throw It" Project by assembling 200 personal-sized monofilament fishing line recycling bins at their 4-H meetings. Once completed these bins will be distributed to anglers and boaters in an effort to spread the word about the importance of recycling fishing line!