Lead Tackle Is Common

• Lead fishing sinkers are produced at an estimated rate of 450 million per year.(1)
• Two thousand seven hundred tons of lead sinkers are sold in the United States annually.(2)
• Lead split shot accounts for 50% of the United States sinker market.(2)
• Studies in the United States have indicated that an average of one sinker is lost every six hours fishing. Nearly 3 million pounds (1500 tons) of lead sinkers and jigs are deposited accidentally in United States’ waters every year.(3)

Lead Is Toxic

• A single dose of 0.01059 ounces (0.3 g) can kill an adult loon.(4) Most sinkers and jigs weigh between 0.01765 ounces (0.5g) and 0.5295 ounces (15 g).(4)
• Lead has been estimated to kill between 1.5 and 2.5 million migratory waterfowl in North America annually.(5)
• Up to 30% of loon mortality in Canada is caused by lead poisoning.(6)
• In eastern North America, lead poisoning from lead sinker and jig ingestion is the leading cause of Common Loon mortality in their breeding areas, killing more loons than trauma, disease, entanglement in fishing line, or gunshot wounds.(6)
• It is important to note that most studies may underestimate the true extent of lead poisoning because most loon carcasses are removed by scavengers and predators.

Studies Show Water Birds Are at Risk

• Evidence collected by the Rose Lake Wildlife Research Center in Michigan from 1988-1992 revealed that 40% of the dead loons studied had died from lead poisoning.(7)
• Over the past decade, Mark Pokras, director of the Wildlife Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, has studied nearly 700 loon carcasses from the northeast United States. His findings indicate that about 48% died from lead poisoning caused by ingested fishing tackle.(4) On some of the eastern lakes fished year-round, mortality from lead poisoning caused by fishing tackle approaches 85%.(4)
• A 1995 report by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency showed that 17% of loons autopsied at research centers had died from lead poisoning.(7)
• Of 650 bald eagles treated by the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center between 1980 and 1996, 138 had lead poisoning.(7) From 1996-1999, 43 additional eagles were affected by lead toxicity – 25% of the bald eagles admitted to the center annually.(7)
• 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.(8)

Sources:
(1) “Fish Lead Free.” Canadian Wildlife Service. Last update: 2003-04-09. 22 July 2003 <http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/fishing/index_e.cfm>.
(2) Sanborn, Wendy. “It’s Fishing Season: Get Out Your Rods and Get Rid of Your Lead Tackle.” Hawkwatch International. 22 July 2003 <http://www.hawkwatch.org/RaptorWatch/Summer%202002/fishing_lead.htm>.
(3) “Environmentally Safe Fishing Weights.” SafeCasters. 22 July 2003 <http://safecasters.virtualave.net/>.
(4) Ellis, Gord. “Is Lead Dead?” Fish Ontario. 22 July 2003 <http://www.fishontario.com/articles/is-lead-dead/index.html>.
(5) “Lead Poses Serious Risks to Loons in Maine.” Fishing-in-Maine.com. 22 July 2003 <http://www.fishing-in-maine.com/Loons.htm>.
(6) Scheuhammer, A. M. and S. L. Norris. “The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights.” Ecotoxicology 5 (1996): 279-295.
(7) “Let’s Get the Lead Out!” Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Updated July 2003. 22 July 2003 <http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm>.
(8) “Lead Toxicosis in Michigan Loons from Ingestion of Lead Sinkers and Jigs: A Real Problem.” The Michigan Loon Preservation Association. 22 July 2003 <http://www.michiganloons.org/lead.htm>.