Five Eco-Friendly Fishing Habits to Adopt

A love for fishing often goes hand in hand with a love for the environment. Anglers, hunters and other outdoor types tend to respect the wilderness that provides them with such enjoyment. But many anglers don't necessarily stop and think about how their fishing habits might be negatively impacting the planet. Following are five simple steps to ensure your fishing equipment and practices are environmentally sound.

1. Assess Your Fishing Equipment

Using eco-friendly fishing gear is a commonly overlooked but essential aspect of green fishing. Evaluate your fishing equipment for any improvements you can make. When you consider all of the fishing trips you make in a lifetime, minor alterations can have a major effect in the long run.

Tackle: Don't use lead sinkers or wires. Fish, waterfowl and other wildlife can ingest lead fishing gear, which can result in behavioral and biochemical reactions that often lead to death, according to the United States Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center. Use fishing equipment made from tin or bismuth instead. There are also biodegradable bait and line products available.

Lighting: When fishing in the dark, replace your regular lights with energy efficient LED lanterns and LED flashlights, which last much longer before they need replacing.

Fishing knives: A long-lasting and efficient fishing knife will cause less waste over time. Select a high-quality stainless steel fishing knife and keep it well sharpened.

2. Pack Out What You Pack In

It almost goes without saying that garbage and non-compostable food waste are harmful to the surrounding ecosystems. It's a good idea to stash a small garbage back in your tackle box to ensure you don't leave any waste behind.

3. Green Your Vehicles

Motorized fishing boats, and the vehicles used to haul them, consume fuel and emit pollutants. It helps if you reduce the impact of your fishing vehicles as much as possible.

Engine maintenance: Tune up the engines of every vehicle you use while fishing. Outboard motors, especially two-stroke ones, should be regularly checked for leaks.

Carpooling: If your fishing trip involves multiple people, try carpooling to your destination.

Boating speed: Maintain a slow speed while boating. Heavy wakes can cause harmful shore erosion, which can throw off chemical balances in the water.

4. Heighten Your Awareness

Staying on top of the latest fishing news and trends can help you ensure that your fishing habits remain eco-friendly. Carefully observe local catch limits, and reduce your environmental impact by keeping fewer fish and practicing proper catch-and-release techniques. To learn more about catch-and-release fishing practices, contact your local fish and wildlife department.

5. Spread the Word

Once you're a green angler -- and you have the eco-friendly fishing equipment to prove it -- you can help others get on board by giving biodegradable fishing gear or LED flashlights and lanterns as gifts. There are also a number of conservation groups you can join, such as the Native Fish Society and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Keep in mind that anglers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts were among the earliest conservationists. Letting your natural respect for the environment carry over into your fishing gear and practices will help ensure the outdoors you enjoy will remain healthy for years.

~Ben Nystrom, 2010

Want to learn more about green fishing gear such as LED flashlights and lanterns? Visit the Coast website for top-of-the-line fishing knives and LED light products.