The Current Status of Lead Fishing Tackle in Minnesota

Lead, Loons, and Legislation: The Current Status of Lead Fishing Tackle in Minnesota

Patrick Hair Rec 3330 12/13/05 Like many Minnesotans, I have lost my fair share of fishing tackle to snags, the occasional dumped canoe, sheer clumsiness, and of course, the big one that broke the line and got away. Any attempt to quantify the amount of tackle that I am personally responsible for inadvertently introducing into Minnesota waters throughout the years would be difficult. Taking into consideration that Minnesota has the highest number of anglers per capita of any state in the nation based on licenses sales (Fish and fishing,

2005) there is a undoubtedly plenty of tackle lost in the water each season in our state.

“Studies have shown that an estimated 1500 tons of lead sinkers and jigs are accidentally lost in the water annually and that the average angler loses 1 lead sinker for every 6 hours that they fish in the United States (as cited in Policy issues, 2003).” Most disconcerting is that the lead tackle that is being lost is toxic to birds and mammals.

Lead poisoning has been known to kill waterfowl since the late 1800s (Sanborn,

2002), yet sinkers and jigs made of lead still dominate shelf-space in Minnesota bait shops and outdoor merchandise stores. But is the lead problem getting better? Is there a really a lead problem at all? These questions and the current status of lead tackle in

Minnesota will be discussed through insight into the basic reason for concern, wildlife research, legislation and regulations, education and promotion of lead alternatives, the position of tackle manufacturers, and finally my own perspective on the issue.

Concerns regarding the use of lead tackle have been building since the early to mid

‘90s. By this time lead buckshot was banned, greatly decreasing the number of avian deaths to lead poisoning (Policy issues, 2003). However, many water-based birds such as loons, ducks, swans, and eagles were turning up dead or severely debilitated, testing positive for lead poisoning. In many cases researchers found the ingestion of lead sinkers and/or jigs to be the direct cause of the poisoning (Let’s get the lead, 2005). Loons and a number of waterfowl, for example, dive to the bottom of a lake and scoop up pebbles to aid in the digestion of food. In the process, they may scoop up a pebble-shaped lead sinker. The lead sinker would then be broken down and absorbed in the bird’s ventriculus or gizzard and after about two-weeks a loon, for example, would be dead

(Lead poisoning – Mich. 2005). Similarly, loons, eagles, cormorants, and other fish- eating birds may ingest lead jigs or sinkers when eating fish that have acquired the tackle

(Let’s get the lead, 2005).

How often do unfortunate scenarios like these actually occur? Evidence from some studies might suggest too often. “The Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary

Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts, found that almost 44% of the breeding loons brought to the clinic dead or dying suffered from lead poisoning

(Loons and lead, N.D.).” Certain heavily fished lakes in that area had up to 85% mortality due to lead tackle (Loons and lead, N.D.). “Lead has been estimated to kill between 1.5 and 2.5 million migratory waterfowl in North America annually (Lead poses,

2003).” “From 1987-2001, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist

Tom Cooley surveyed 180 dead loons and found approximately 23% had died from lead poisoning caused by fishing tackle (Policy issues, 2003).” Though no long term comprehensive loon mortality studies have been done in Minnesota, “a study conducted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency concluded that lead poisoning accounted for

12 percent of the dead adult loons with known causes of death (Let’s get the lead, 2005).”

The University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center has seen the effects of lead as well. “Since 1996, an average of 25 percent of the bald eagles admitted to The Raptor Center each year have toxic levels of lead in their blood (Lead poisoning, Raptor Center, 2005).”

With data like this coming out of research, many states, including Minnesota, have taken steps to introduce, and in some cases pass, legislation regulating lead tackle.

Research has found that the sinkers that are most likely to be ingested usually weigh less than 1 ounce (Myers, 2005b). With this in mind, some states, Vermont, New York, and

Maine have prohibited the use of sinkers weighing less than ½ ounce. New Hampshire prohibits lead sinkers weighing less than a full ounce (Let’s get the lead, 2005). After seeing the affect of lead tackle on swans, Great Britain was a forerunner in 1987 with its regulations banning lead sinkers under 1 ounce. Lead tackle is prohibited in Canada’s

National Parks (Lead fishing, 2004). “Yellowstone National Park and two National

Refuges have banned the use of lead tackle (Let’s get the lead, 2005).”

Where is Minnesota with its legislation? Duluth Senator Yvonne Prettner-Solon introduced a bill in 2003 calling for a ban on lead tackle (Hemphill, 2003). What came out of the bill was not entirely what she had sought after but a step in that direction. The

Legislature directed that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the

Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance set out on an educational campaign that would provide sample alternatives to lead tackle and information materials to anglers

(Policy and legislation, 2005). Through additional grants and help from environmental and conservation groups and tackle retailers, a campaign that urges Minnesota, “Let’s Get the Lead Out!” was born. In the summer of 2005, over 30 tackle exchanges were held at various locations throughout Minnesota (Let’s get the lead, 2005). Since 2003, many hoped that additional follow-up legislation would occur. At present no new legislation involving lead tackle has been introduced. Today lead tackle still dramatically outsells jigs and sinkers of nontoxic materials (Myers, 2005a). For both manufacturers and consumers the difficulty in switching to nontoxic tackle is as simple as supply and demand – but a bit more complicated.

Pam Perry, DNR Nongame Wildlife Specialist and Minnesota Loon Watch

Coordinator states, "It's frustrating when anglers tell us that they would make the switch to nonlead alternatives, but that they can't find them at their sporting goods stores or bait shops. At the same time, the store owners tell us that anglers won't buy the alternatives

(Myers, 2005b)."

Water Gremlin, a Minnesota tackle manufacturer has been making tin jigs and sinkers as part of their environmentally-friendly line since 1993. “’We don't feel there's much demand for an environmental sinker whatever, because we've been offering them side by side with our lead products for years, and they have not grabbed very much of a market,’ says Geoff Ratte, the spokesman Water Gremlin (Enger, 2000).”

“In 2000, Ratte also stated, ‘We've looked up and down the periodic chart from every angle possible, and we haven't found anything that's even close to lead in terms of density, in terms of ease of manufacture, in terms of softness, in terms of availability, and in terms of cost. (Enger, 2000)’”

What are the available alternatives? Some alternatives to lead include: tin, steel, bismuth, ceramic, densified plastic, brass, and pewter (Let’s get the lead, 2005). In many anglers’ and manufactures’ view, the most promising nontoxic material is a type of tungsten and plastic composite. With this composite manufacturers are able to make a heavy, moldable, nontoxic jig that weighs more than lead jig of the same size and that, most importantly, costs only slightly more than the lead counterpart (Myers, 2005a).

Gravity Heikkila and Dr. Drop, Inc. are two Minnesota tackle manufacturers that are embracing the bright future of tungsten (Myers, 2005a). Rob Kavanaugh of Dr. Drop,

Inc. states, "The environmental reason for buying this [tungsten tackle] is really third on the sales pitch list for us. It's heavier, it's better and oh yeah, by the way, it's nontoxic

(Myers, 2005a)."

With what many believe to be a “better-than-lead” nontoxic jig making a steady move onto store shelves and demand for nontoxic alternatives slowly, but steadily rising, one would think it would be only a matter of time before manufacturers and anglers would be open to the idea of banning lead. There are those, however, who are opposed to the idea that lead is a problem to be dealt with to begin with.

Most anglers are open to the idea of alternatives. The primary opposition comes from tackle manufacturers. Ted Takasaki, President of Lindy Little Joe Inc. of Brainerd states, "It's [a ban on lead] not based on any science, and it's unenforceable (Smith,

2003)." Geoff Ratte of Water Gremlin agrees, "No matter how they do it, it makes no sense. If they ban the use, everyone who comes here from other states will have a bag full of contraband. If they ban only the sale of sinkers, anglers will start making them in their garage and then we'll have human exposure to lead that will be 100 times worse than with loons (Smith, 2003)."

The American Sportfishing Association has made it clear that they believe applying loon mortality studies such as the one done at Tufts University in Massachusetts to

Minnesota is “bad science” (Myers, 2005b). Many manufacturers have taken the position that they are not against a ban on lead, they just need to see it happen on a federal level so that the playing field is level and regulations are the same from state to state (Smith, 2003).

In asserting my own opinion on the issue, I would begin by agreeing with that last point – it would be great to see a federal ban on the use of lead tackle. I believe manufacturers that produce lead tackle are aware that they are on a sinking ship. I would like to think that the correct response to the issue is obvious in that since lead is the cause of death for a substantial number of loons and waterfowl, we should stop using lead tackle.

While working at Voyageurs National Park this past summer, the Friends of

Voyageurs National Park helped sponsor a tackle exchange. Volunteers spent a weekend at the boat ramps exchanging lead tackle for a variety of nontoxic options. After one day they had collected 27 pounds of lead tackle, handed out plenty of nontoxic samples and talked with visitors about the concerns regarding lead tackle. The weekend afforded an opportunity to educate hundreds of visitors about lead tackle. Visiting anglers were offered the choice of hanging on to their lead tackle or trading up for the newer nontoxic models. At the end of the weekend the volunteers reported that, with the exception of one gentleman who thought the tackle exchange was another attempt by the federal government to take what belongs to him, visitors were very appreciative and excited about the effort.

I believe education opportunities like this go a long way. If the 2003 legislation had passed, a ban would have occurred but the education probably would not have. This past summer I cleaned out my own tackle boxes. If a ban on the sales of lead tackle would have passed, prior to this summer I would still have had enough lead sinkers in my tackle boxes to last a lifetime - and potentially kill a number of loons. Many anglers are in the same spot. Had there not been an educational campaign, just regulations, they would still use the lead tackle they had in their tackle boxes. Instead, they are informed, and on their own free will, bring in their lead tackle to be disposed of properly.

Like many Minnesotans, I may lose my fair share of fishing tackle to snags, the occasional dumped canoe, sheer clumsiness, or the big one that brakes the line and gets away – but at least now I know the non-lead tackle I lose will not cause the death of a bird. I hope my fellow Minnesotans hear the message as well. Works Cited

Enger, Leif. (2000, May 9). Environmental threat: lead sinkers. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200005/09_engerl_fishm/ index.shtml

Environmentally safe fishing weights. (2003, July 22). SafeCasters. http://safecasters.virtualave.net/ Retrieved source citation December 3, 2005, from http://www.serconline.org/lead/pkg_frameset.html

Fish and fishing. (2005). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/faq/mnfacts/fishing.html

Hemphill, S. (2003, July 15). Getting the lead out. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/07/15_hemphills_leadtackle/

Lead fishing gear faces prohibition (2004, March 11.). EnviroZine: Environment Canada’s Online Magazine. Issue 41, Feature 3, section: “Global Action.” Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/41/feature3_e.cfm

Lead poisoning. (2005). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 3, 2005 from http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153- 10370_12150_12220-26676--,00.html

Lead poisoning. (2005, July 11). The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu/raptor/ news/healthtopics/leadpoisoning/home.html

Lead poses serious risks to loons in Maine. (2003, July 22). Fishing-in-Maine.com. Retrieved December 3, 2005 from http://www.fishing-in-maine.com/Loons.htm

Lead toxicosis in Michigan loons from ingestion of lead sinkers and jigs: a real problem. (No Date). The Michigan Loon Preservation Association. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.michiganloons.org/lead.htm

Let’s get the lead out! (2005, September). Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm

Loons and lead poisoning. (No Date). Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved December 3, 2005 from http://www.tufts.edu/vet/loons/loon.html Myers, J. (2005, June 19). Getting the lead out. Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/11930309.htm

Meyers, J. (2005). Tackling toxic tackle. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun03/toxictackle.html

Policy and legislation: continue state outreach on non-lead sinkers. (2005). Minnesota Environmental Partnership. Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.mepartnership.org/mep_legislation.asp?brf_id=179

Policy Issues Package: Lead fishing tackle. (2003, October 23). State Environmental Resource Center. Sections: “Fact Pack” and “Background.” Retrieved December 3, 2005, from http://www.serconline.org/lead/pkg_frameset.html

Sanborn, W. (2002). Lead poisoning of North American wildlife form lead shot and lead fishing tackle. Hawkwatch International. Page 1. Section: “Lead Poisoning of Waterfowl.” Retrieved December 5, 2005, from http://www.hawkwatch.org/publications/Manuscripts/Lead_Poisoning_Paper1.pdf

Smith, D. (2003, March 19). Ban on lead sinkers debated. Star Tribune. Retrieved December 3, 2003 from http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers-startribune030319.cfm