As a passionate angler who has spent a lifetime fishing in South Africa’s oceans, I’ve repeatedly faced the same challenges. When a fishing line snaps, it results in the loss of the hook, lead sinker, and extra line. This frequent issue has serious consequences for our oceans and marine life. Fish, sharks, and stingrays suffer greatly, as hooks inflict pain, discomfort, and stress. Many of these creatures are left to cope with these foreign objects, while others sadly do not survive their injuries. Additionally, lost lead sinkers and fishing lines pose a threat to coral reefs. To tackle this problem, I propose the development of biodegradable fishing sinkers made from a blend of sea sand, pebbles, and shells, all contained within a biodegradable bag. If the bag is lost, it would break open, dispersing its contents and then decomposing naturally. Furthermore, I recommend creating rubber fishing lures from a digestible mix of seaweed or other natural materials with eco-friendly colorants. This approach would help protect fish and turtles that might accidentally ingest them.
