Magnet fishing is rising in popularity thanks to online forums, social media, and YouTubers showing off their finds…
As seasoned veterans steer newcomers in the right direction and guide how not to make the same mistakes they have, we have to ask whether or not this influx of magnets in the water are causing any damage to the environment?
This article covers what kind of impact, if any, magnet fishing is making on the environment. Is it possible that this activity is inherently good or bad for the environment?
Is magnet fishing Good for the environment?
If you are a hobbyist, then it has probably come across your mind whether or not reeling in all the metal from a body of water is beneficial.
Simply put, yes you are doing the environment a good service. Too much of a good thing can be bad however. Believe or not, there are cases when magnet fishing can disrupt the environment.
However, don’t let that mislead you into believing you are doing harm everytime you throw your magnet in the water. In fact, you do more way more good than bad. It is only specific situations that make the hobby less than ideal for the environment.
For the most part, being a magnet fisherman helps the environment. There are many benefits to having people pull out as much metal as they can from our local bodies of water.
It’s only the people that do not understand the hobby that would think magnet fishing is harming an ecosystem…
…Let alone the environment. Little is understood about this growing hobby by the general public.
In fact, most people do not understand how the hobby is enjoyed. Those that don’t know what exactly happens when the magnet gets thrown in the water would believe it causes harm to the environment.
In a nutshell, magnet fishing is worthwhile and good for the environment. There are more pros than cons when it comes to the hobby. And yes, there are negatives involved with magnet fishing, but fortunately there are only a few to cover.
Magnet Fishing Environmental Benefits …
Rusting metal in lakes, ponds, spillways, streams and other bodies of water that hold life such as fish or amphibians is harmful to their wellbeing. This metal litter affects the wildlife negatively.
As the metals begin to break down, they develop rust which will eventually spill into the water system.
This rust is toxic to fish and in large amounts can be fatal. You can see why removing this metal can preserve the ecosystem. Smaller, fragile fish live long enough to be eaten by bigger fish and those fish become food for something larger. The diverse ecosystem of even the smallest stream can be saved by removing these toxic metals.
You will also be doing your local city a huge favor by helping clean up all the debris that would otherwise pollute bodies of water. Unfortunately, most cities do not have the resources to clean out water bodies.
Overtime they collect city waste, sewage, and unused metal parts.
People and wildlife end up getting injured if they get in the water of these dumping grounds. They unknowingly step on or get scratched by sharp, rusting metal. Typically, heavily polluted waters are dark from the rust.
They wouldn’t know if an object was in their path.
Magnet fishing is beneficial to the environment because it cleans out our local bodies of water and removes toxic metals.
You would be helping clean up tons of pollution from otherwise forgotten areas. In doing so, you might just get lucky and find something of value along the way.
How to take advantage of this hobby to help the environment?
So, you want to take part in this rewarding hobby and help out the environment in the best possible way you can?
It is much easier than you think to get started and help clean your local waterways. Next to taking a trash bag and a long pointed stick to your local park, this is the next best thing to picking up trash most people leave behind.
First off, you’ll need a magnet designed for magnet fishing (Check this One Here at Amazon). A strong single sided 3” diameter N52 neodymium magnet will be a great starting point. It is one of the most common and inexpensive magnets you can find all over the internet.
Don’t get lost in the details when it comes to selecting your first magnet. Typically, the 500lb strength magnet will help clear out most of the debris.
However, if you feel that your particular area is heavily polluted then choose the 1000lb strength magnet.
Next, find a strong rope (Check it Here at Amazon), preferably nylon paracord. The reason you want a rope made of nylon paracord is because it’s durability, strength, and elasticity. Nylon paracord is tough and will withstand abuse.
Additionally, it has elasticity which will indicate when you have something attached to the magnet. As you drag the magnet and pause, the paracord will stretch and tighten, indicating something is connected.
It’s best to have plenty of rope, so any amount above 50ft will be ideal.
A high-quality pair of gloves (Check it Here at Amazon) are essential. They will protect your hands as you reel in your magnet, and just as importantly protect them while you handle your catch.
As you do your part to help the environment, you will want to protect your hands to keep going. Also, you’ll need your hands safe so you can inspect any potential valuables.
One last item often overlooked is the versatile big box home repair store bucket (Check it Here at Amazon). These 5-gallon buckets serve multiple purposes…
…For example, you can carry your tools to the water in one, and return with treasure in the same bucket and trash in another. Ideally, you’ll want to keep multiple buckets on hand for this purpose.
At the basic level, all you need is listed so far. Other than that, the only thing is you out on the water with some spare time to spend. Patience is key when magnet fishing. It takes steady hands, alertness, and zen like patience.
But, what do you do with all the trash after you took out all the treasure?
… You can easily find your local metal recycling scrap yard. You can take what is not obviously valuable to a scrap yard and collect even more money for your finds. It’s a win-win situation. You get paid for your finds, and you help improve the environment.
Ways Magnet Fishing could be dangerous/bad for the environment
So far, magnet fishing has been the miracle fix for polluted waterways everywhere. There are instances when magnet fishing could be dangerous or bad for the environment.
… First, it’s best to cover the unlikely but possible occurrence of a live grenade being activated.
It’s not unheard of for magnet fisherman to reel in a grenade with the pin still attached. No known cases of grenades being activated while being retrieved have been documented.
However, it is something to be aware since it takes one incident to change the perception of magnet fishing. A live grenade detonating could cause serious damage to an ecosystem.
But, the most likely to happen is leaving behind rusting metal either on land or broken pieces in the water.
Sometimes the obvious happens the most. It is easy to get excited over the treasure and forget the trash. Another possibility is reeling in only half of the trash because the other half broke off. Be thorough and you can avoid leaving behind any trash.
Final Thoughts …
So there you have it. Magnet fishing is good for the environment. Only if the fisherman remembers to be thorough and not to forget their trash. Other than that, magnet fishing has become a blessing in disguise.
You can find treasure and remove harmful pollution from your local body of water. All the while picking up valuables along the way. The only time this activity would be bad is when a fisherman forgets to leave with all the trash they find.
Sometimes fishermen get so excited over their find they want to get it home and cleaned up as fast as possible. They tend to forget behind all the stuff they don’t want. Other than this accidental mishap, magnet fishing is perfect for cleaning up some of the more neglected parts of the city.
Just remember, any area you fish be sure to leave it cleaner than you found it. Not only does the water deserve to be clean, but the land surrounding it as well. Fill up one of your buckets with trash, and the other with treasure.
Finally, this Magnet Fishing Solid Guide is Gold! Check it out … I include everything you need to know there!
