Local artist Jane Stewart is on a mission to protect the environment by encouraging people to use bio-degradable crabbing lines.
Last year, with funding from Brightlingsea Harbour and the Fresh Air Festival, Jane helped around 300 visitors and local families to create the natural twine lines, complete with a hessian bag to hold the bait.
She will be offering free making sessions at this year’s town regatta over the weekend on July 22 & 23 as part of her bid to rid the marine environment of nylon line.
“Nylon crabbing lines entangle seals and fish, birds get it caught around their feet, wings and beaks,”said Jane. “Finally as it washes up on the shoreline, especially near the old railway line, it works its way into the stomachs of grazing animals.”
Jane added: “I would really like Tendring Council to take the lead on banning the sale of nylon crabbing lines in the shops. Cornwall and Devon have done something similar, so why not the East Coast?”
She will aso be holding a ‘line amnesty’ at the regatta for old nylon lines, which may be used to make a container for discarded bait and wrappers used by crabbers at the Hard..
