Monofilament Fishing Line As A Threat to American Oystercatchers (haematopus Palliatus) on the Texas Coast, Usa

Over the course of a 6-year study of American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus), five cases of entanglement in monofilament fishing line were encountered. Two cases resulted in confirmed death, one case resulted in probable death, and two cases resulted in survival but required human intervention. Approximately 2-4% of the study population was represented in these events, which is cause for alarm as monofilament fishing line is a hazard both to American Oystercatchers and other species. This report emphasizes the need for careful responsibility by recreational users of fishing tackle, educational programs to stress this need, and signage to reinforce this message. Received 16 June 2016, accepted 11 July 2016.