There is nothing better than sitting on the dock out to camp, and listening to the cry of a Maine loon as the sun goes down.  New fishing rules and regulations either just implemented or about to be here in Maine are all about protecting these precious birds.

A press release this morning from the Maine Audubon Society states that, "Lead poisoning has long been the leading cause of death for adult loons in Maine. In order to protect loons from lead poisoning resulting from the ingestion of lead fishing tackle, beginning in September 2016 it is illegal in Maine to sell bare (unpainted) lead-headed jigs less than 2.5” long. In September 2017, the use of these jigs will also be banned."

That's good news!

Before Maine's first lead regulations back in 2002, almost a third of loons found dead here in Maine had died of lead poisoning.

“Adult loons either ingest lead when they catch fish with lead sinkers and jigs attached, or they pick up lead objects while eating the gravel they need to digest their food from lake bottoms,” said Susan Gallo, Maine Audubon wildlife biologist. Ingested objects like sinkers and jigs stay in loon gizzards, wearing down and elevating lead levels in blood and body tissues. Loons usually die from lead poisoning in a matter of weeks.

Image provided by the Maine Audubon Society
Image provided by the Maine Audubon Society
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With the goal of  helping anglers make the switch to lead-free tackle, An Act to Protect Maine’s Loons by Banning Lead Sinkers and Jigs (LD 730) was passed back in 2013.

“We wanted to get the word out to anglers that making the switch to lead-free can be easy now that there are so many products available for purchase in local stores and online,” said Gallo, who is spearheading the initiative. “Using lead-free tackle will make an enormous difference for loons. We are already seeing a significant reduction in loon mortality.”

The "Fish Lead-Free Initiative" educates the public about the importance of fishing with lead-free tackle, and has a website that outlines Maine’s tackle regulations and lists retailers and online outlets where lead-free tackle can be purchased.

The coalition also hosts tackle exchanges and provides interested individuals or community groups with lead exchange “kits” stocked with lead-free tackle that can be given out at public events, like fishing derbies or tournaments. Plus, Fish Lead Free has provided 350 tackle boxes stocked with lead-free tackle to the DIFW Hooked on Fishing Program.

For more information on tackle exchanges, you can contact Susan Gallo via email at sgallo@maineaudubon.org

 

 

 

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