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 GO
GREEN!
Teaching kids to fish actually helps to
save the planet. In order to be a successful fisherman you must
develop an in-depth understanding of the aquatic habitat. This leads
to a feeling of ownership of the resource and a concern for its future.
That's what we refer to as environmental stewardship.
According to the EPA, environmental stewardship is the
responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions
affect the environment. And well, that's everyone, because
everything we do has some affect on the environment. But most of us
do little to reduce this impact, because our affect isn't always obvious.
But try fishing in a polluted lake and you will see for yourself what
impact we have. Below are some examples of what you can do about it.
PROPERLY DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
 Think
twice next time you put electronics, batteries, or chemicals in your
trash. It's illegal to put these items in the trash because they are
environmental hazards. Whether land filled or incinerated, these items ultimately
break down and make their way into our water. They pollute our
waterways and even the water we drink. And if that's not scary enough, when these items are incinerated
chemicals and metals are
released into the air we breathe. And don't even consider dumping
chemicals, oil, or gasoline. We are all guilty of it at some time or
another. Some of the worst offenders have even dumped these items
right into our lakes or storm drains. Even a simple act such as
dumping gasoline on the side of your home can affect our water. When
these items are dumped the soil is immediately contaminated. The very
first time it rains these chemicals are washed towards our groundwater
supply or storm drains. Our storm drains empty right into our lakes
and canals and those all empty into the ocean and the everglades.
They are all connected. Just a few ounces of the wrong chemicals and
thousands of fish can die. Please dispose of hazardous waste items
properly. Refer to this link for more information about hazardous
waste recycling and disposal in your area:
http://www.broward.org/waste/kids.html
PICK 5 FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Do more to protect the environment by choosing at least five
actions you'll commit to. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/pick5/
- Use less water! Take showers instead of baths, fix
leaks, and turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. And buy efficient
fixtures by looking for the WaterSense label. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/index.htm
- Commute without polluting! Use public transportation,
carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to reduce air pollution and save on
fuel costs. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/trans.htm
- Save electricity! Do a home energy audit, get
programmable thermostats, buy Energy Star products, turn stuff off when your
done, and change your bulbs to compact fluorescents. Learn more at
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle! Try to find products with
less packaging, take reusable bags on shopping trips, creatively reuse other
products, and recycle what's left. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm
- Test your home for radon! Radon is a naturally
occurring, odorless gas that can seep into your home and cause lung cancer.
Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/radon/
- Check your local air quality! When you exercise
outdoors, use your local air quality forecast to help plan the best time for a
workout or run. Learn more at
http://www.airnow.gov/
- Use chemicals safely! Read pesticide labels
carefully. Lock up pesticides, paints, and cleaners where kids can't
reach them. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/index.htm
- eCycle! Take your old computer, DVD player, or other
electronics to a recycling center. This helps keep hazardous substances
out of the landfill. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm
- Enjoy the outdoors safely! Find out the quality of
beach water from your state office and get the UV index to protect yourself
from the sun. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html or
http://www.epa.gov/beaches/index.html
- Spread the word! Teach others where you work or go to
school! Encourage people to Pick 5 for the environment! Learn more
at
http://www.epa.gov/pick5/ "Pick 5 for the Environment" is a
publication of the EPA.
FISH GREEN
Yes, you heard it here first. Fish Green! What
exactly do we mean by that? For starters, you should clean up after
yourself. Put your trash in your pocket and dispose of it properly when
you get back home. That includes lure packages, fishing line, and live
worm containers. If you brought it with you, take it with you.
But the concern isn't just about litter. All those
plastic containers, broken lures, and torn plastic worms can take literally
hundreds of years to degrade. These items will kill wildlife that digests
or becomes tangled. I have seen ducks killed by plastic shopping bags and
birds wrapped in leftover fishing line. So don't be a pig, please clean up
after yourself. And if you want to make a positive impact you should clean
up other litter you find along the shoreline, even if its not yours.
That's a great idea even if your not a fisherman.
Kidsfishing.org and our Kids Fishing Club have a zero
tolerance of litter during our events. We will also be planning a
shoreline cleanup project to assist with the cleanup and rejuvenation of our
favorite fishing lakes.
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