Discarded fishing line leaves Florida Keys manatee severely injured
Fishing line was embedded so deeply in a Florida Keys manatee this week that rescuers had to remove the sea mammal from the water for medical treatment.
The 10-foot female was found Tuesday afternoon near the Taylor Creek Village subdivision in Key Largo, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Once FWC officers and biologists and marine mammal rescuers from Dolphin Research Center, Dolphins Plus and Aquarium Encounters removed the manatee, they discovered the monofilament fishing line was tangled in both her flippers.
Rescuers were able to remove the line from her left flipper. But the monofilament was wrapped so far into her right flipper that FWC biologists transferred her to SeaWorld Orlando to have it removed, according to a post on the Dolphin Research Center’s Facebook page.
The FWC says the incident serves as an important reminder to anglers to clean up their fishing gear.
“Remember to stash your trash,” said Officer Bobby Dube, FWC spokesman in the Keys. “Especially old and discarded fishing line. It can be deadly for our wildlife.”
