"Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project at the 2010 Tampa Bay Watch Tarpon Rodeo

Tampa Bay Watch hosted its annual Ed Alber Tarpon Rodeo All-Release Tournament June 10-11th this year. At this event, we were able to distribute some of the personal-sized fishing line recycling bins that were assembled by Sarasota County 4-H Members attending 4-H Summer Camp. These recycling bins were passed out to many of the anglers and event sponsors at the captains meeting on Friday night. A special thanks to Tampa Bay Watch for their support of the "Stow It-Dont' Throw It" Project and for allowing us to be a part of their tournament!

World Ocean Day 2010

On June 6th, Sean Russell, "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project Coordinator teamed up with staff at Mote Marine Laboratory to run a booth on sustainable fishing practices at Mote's World Ocean Day Celebration. World Ocean Day is an event designed to raise awareness of our planet's oceans and encourage people to work together to protect these important ecosystems. Through this educational display, children of all ages had the chance to decorate the aquarium with their own posters on protecting marine wildlife. Families attending also were able to learn about the negative impact fishing line can have on wildlife, and about the importance of recycling used fishing line. Check out the pictures from the event below! For more information on World Ocean Day visit: http://www.theoceanproject.org/wod/.

Sarasota County 4-H Camp Participants Assemble Fishing Line Recycling Bins

On June 7-11, over 80 4-H members from Sarasota County spent a week at Cloverleaf 4-H Center in Lake Placid, FL for 4-H Summer Camp. During the week these participants took part in a variety of classes and activities ranging from archery and canoeing to crafts and fishing. As part of their nature classes for the week, youth learned about the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" project and the importance of recycling used fishing line. They then worked throughout the day to assemble approximately 200 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins to be distributed to anglers at a varitey of different events and locations. A special thanks to the Sarasota County 4-H members, Summer Camp Staff, and Sarasota County 4-H Staff for their help with this project!