Environmental Pollution by Lost Fishing Tackle: A Systematic Assessment in Lake Eixendorf

Environmental pollution by lost fishing tackle is hardly considered in freshwater management. We collected and classified lost angling tackle during the dewatering of Lake Eixendorf, Germany. Based on the results, 1 item per 100 m² lake area was found, resulting in 5442 items, with an overall weight of more than 65 kg. This included more than 5 km of braided and monofilament fishing lines of various diameters. Lures used for active fishing methods such as stickbaits (shads and twister), metal spoons, spinners, and hard plastic baits had the greatest weight contribution (53.4%). Tackle lost from passive fishing methods (45.1%) mostly comprised groundbaiting feeder baskets and classical lead sinkers. Concerning the chemical composition, most lost items contained a composite mix of different materials. Lead was most abundant (45 kg), followed by plastics (13 kg) and steel (6 kg). Other materials such as copper, aluminum, brass (altogether 376 g), and chemicals from glow sticks (25 g) were less frequently found. Environmental pollution by lost fishing tackle deserves attention and, due to its potential environmental consequences, needs to be integrated into the pollution management of aquatic ecosystems, e.g., by identifying the most problematic items and by regulating the production and use of gear containing hazardous substances.