Engaging Anglers in the Fight Against Plastic Pollution
Plastic Pollution in the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are vital to the livelihoods, cultural traditions, and recreation of communities across the region. Our work related to plastic pollution, including through our Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup, has highlighted the significant impact it is having on Great Lakes ecosystems, water quality, and human health.
Engaging the Recreational Fishing Community
The recreational fishing community has a strong connection to local waterways across the Great Lakes and often sees the impacts of plastic pollution firsthand. Involving the community in plastic pollution prevention is essential to ensuring clean water and healthy fish populations for current and future generations.
With generous support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Great Lakes Local Action Fund, and in collaboration with the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters (OFAH), Pollution Probe is launching a new initiative aimed at engaging the Great Lakes fishing community around plastic pollution prevention and reduction.
The initiative will seek to learn more about specific experiences with plastic pollution given the fishing community’s connection to our local waterways and the important role that they play in protecting them. These insights will inform the development of educational materials reflective of the needs of the fishing community, the installation of receptacles to make the disposal of fishing gear even easier and the development of targeted upstream solutions to plastic pollution.
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you a recreational fisher in the Great Lakes region? We invite you to complete our short survey and to share your experiences, concerns, and ideas related to plastic pollution. Your feedback will directly inform community-driven strategies and educational resources to reduce plastic pollution and safeguard local waterways.