Funded by: USDA Hatch Multistate
When disposed of improperly monofilament line (used on fishing reels and in manufacturing fishing nets) can be hazardous to marine life, scuba divers and even boat propellers. When possible, it is best to recycle used fishing line in receptacles like the above.
This project seeks to understand how place attachment to coastal areas impacts attitudes towards and perceptions of environmental quality issues (including plastics pollution), and how we can more effectively use communication strategies to inform conservation behaviors. In summer 2021, pilot data was collected through surveys and interviews of fishers and recreational users of coastal areas in Rhode Island. Results will clarify what it means to have a “coastal identity”, how such identities are tied to perceptions of water pollution, and motivations for undertaking pro-environmental behaviors (such as limiting plastic pollution from fishing materials).