FRESHWATER LEAD SINKER AND JIG BAN TAKES EFFECT JA

[wildguide]

This is part of what the state sent me this morning. Thought I'd share it.
Merry Christmas


MassWildlife News

Commonwealth of Massachusetts – Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Wayne F. MacCallum, Director

___________________________________________________________________________

Email: [e-mail] Visit our Website! www.mass.gov/masswildlife

Media Inquiries: Call [phone]



FRESHWATER LEAD SINKER AND JIG BAN TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2012



The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) reminds all freshwater anglers that as of January 1, 2012, the use of any lead fishing sinkers and lead jigs weighing less than one ounce is now prohibited in all inland waters (freshwater) of the Commonwealth. In terms of this regulation, “lead sinker” or “lead weight” is defined as any sinker or weight made from lead that weighs less than 1 ounce. A “lead jig” is defined as any lead-weighted hook weighing less than one ounce. Prohibited tackle includes lead sinkers and jigs (weighing less than an ounce) painted, coated with some other substance or with attached “skirts”. Other types of sinkers, fishing lures, and/or fishing tackle including, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, lead-core, buzz-baits, spinner baits, or other weighted fishing lines may still be used for freshwater fishing. Ecologically safe alternatives to lead sinkers and lead jigs (such as steel and tin) are readily available from many sources and come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, weights, and sizes to meet every type of fishing need.



In 2009, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to prohibit the use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than an ounce with the provision that the regulation go into effect January 1, 2012. This delay gave manufacturers and anglers time to adjust to these changes. “The regulation was implemented primarily to protect the state’s small population of Common Loon (Gavia immer),” said Dr. Mark Tisa, Assistant Director of Fisheries. Common Loons are a state listed Species of Special Concern.



Historically, the Common Loon nested in Massachusetts, but was extirpated in the late nineteenth century. In 1975, a pair of loons was discovered nesting in Quabbin Reservoir. The population has increased, and today approximately 32 territorial pairs can be found on 14 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs in the Commonwealth, the southern limit of the loon’s breeding range. Large piscivorous (fish-eating) birds that rely on sight to capture their prey, loons require relatively large nesting territories and water of high clarity; hence their population growth here is limited by the availability of this habitat.



Ingestion of lead fishing gear is the single largest cause of mortality for adult loons in fresh water in New England. Veterinarians at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine examined 483 dead adult loons and determined that approximately 44% of these birds died as the result of lead poisoning. Their research documented that ingestion of small lead sinkers and jigs accounted for approximately 79% of the lead objects recovered from loons that died from lead poisoning in fresh water. A single lead sinker or split shot can poison a loon. A bird with lead poisoning exhibits physical and behavioral changes, including loss of balance, gasping, tremors, and impaired ability to fly. The weakened bird is more vulnerable to predators and may have trouble feeding, mating, nesting, and caring for its young. A loon becomes emaciated and often dies within 2 to 3 weeks after ingesting the lead.



Loons ingest lead sinkers and lead jigs in two ways. One is when loons take minnows hooked as bait on a fishing line. The loon breaks off the line and then swallows the hook, line, swivel, and sinker or jig. A second ingestion method apparently occurs when loons ingest small pebbles from lake bottoms to help grind food in their gizzards. It appears they may inadvertently swallow lead sinkers and jigs while engaged in this activity, or are perhaps actively choosing them for some other reason (possibly because of their unique size, shape, or shine).



“Through this new conservation regulation it is possible to reduce the chance of lead poisoning of loons, a goal all sportsmen should support,” said Dr. Tisa. “Most anglers who have experienced the presence of loons would agree that sightings of these magnificent birds and the enjoyment of their iconic, eerie calls adds to the quality of any fishing experience.”



Sporting and fishing clubs, bait and tackle stores, watershed associations, marinas, and other conservation organizations can help get the message about the new regulation in several ways: making announcements at meetings, publishing the information in newsletters or email blasts, or posting a flyer announcing the lead sinker ban available from the DFW website at: www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/pdf/loons_lead_sinker_flyer.pdf.



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[AgMD]

Thank you for posting an important notice. I hate chucking lead, but there are times when you just have to. When I do, I like to use the smallest bit I can and I miss the heavier density of lead in the old shot. But this regulation is a total no-brainer. The effect on loons is so well documented that use of lead shot is just immoral.
When most animals ingest a chunk of lead, most of it passed through the body before much of it is absorbed into the system. Birds however do not "eat" the shot, as such. They swallow it into their crop where it stays with other small stones. The crop is surrounded by powerful muscles which use these stones to grind seed and grains into small digestible particles. The stones, and lead shot, stay in the crop until they have been ground away. Thus most of the lead shot is ground into small particles which are readily dissolved by the stomach acids and absorbed into the blood.
And the bird dies.
AgMD

[DRYFLYPHIL]

Hey, thanks for the reminder on that new law! 6wt told me about it not so long ago, and I knew about it, thought put it in the back of my mind.

Much appreciated.....DRYFLYPHIL