"Balloon fishing"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Change.org" <mail@change.org>
Date: Oct 26, 2015 5:33 PM
Subject: "Balloon fishing"
To: <guyperea1@gmail.com>
Cc:

Trending petition Guy – There's a new petition taking off on Change.org, and we think you might be interested in signing it. Petitioning Richard Scott, Irving Slosberg, Maria Sachs Make Balloon Fishing Illegal and Help Save Endangered Sea Turtles Petition by Jorge sigler Boca Raton, Florida 22,329 Supporters Sign Jorge's petition Florida has a vast wealth of natural treasures, from breathtaking coastlines to the world-renowned Everglades, from gentle manatees to the majestic Florida panther. As has been said, with great wealth comes great responsibility, and it is our job to protect this state's unique and fragile wilderness. Much of which is at risk because of human activity. A lot of this activity cannot be stopped, but there are certain small changes we can make that could mean all the difference to Florida's sensitive ecosystem. There's a method of fishing commonly used by both salt and freshwater fishermen throughout the state that requires tying balloons to the fishing line. This "balloon fishing" works well to suspend bait and attract fish. The only problem is that a struggling fish usually ends up popping the balloon, so each time the fisherman brings in his catch, it's very likely the litter from the balloon is lost out to sea, polluting our waterways. And they're not just unsightly. These balloons and their remnants have been ingested by thousands of sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and many other marine and even land animals. They often end up lodged in the animal's digestive tract, blocking it, causing a long, slow, painful death by starvation. There are numerous alternatives, and no amount of ease in your fishing rig is worth the deaths of endemic and endangered species. Please join me in calling on Florida lawmakers to outlaw the use of balloons in fishing. I volunteer at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, so I see firsthand the impact these balloons have on sea life. Even "biodegradable" latex balloons can take years to break down, so their numbers add up. And they are a particularly bad form of litter because deflated and shredded balloons look remarkably like jellyfish, a major source of food for sea turtles and other marine life. The release of helium balloons into the sky is strictly regulated in Florida -- it is illegal to release 10 or more balloons because of the problems their litter causes. Still, balloons and balloon pieces continue to wreak havoc on local wildlife. Outlawing balloon fishing could go a long way toward fixing this problem, and saving endangered animals. Please sign my petition and help me call on Florida lawmakers to take measures to curb litter in our precious waterways. Ask them to prohibit balloon fishing. For more information visit us here. Sign Jorge's petition Want to change something? Start a petition. The person (or organization) who started this petition is not affiliated with Change.org. Change.org did not create this petition and is not responsible for the petition content. This email was sent by Change.org to guyperea1@gmail.com. You can edit your email preferences or unsubscribe from these emails. We'd love to hear your feedback. Start a petition   ·   Contact us   ·   Privacy policy Change.org   ·   548 Market St #29993, San Francisco, CA 94104-5401, USA