Earlier this fall, an ad playing on the radio caught Dana Jenkins’ attention. “Calling all fishing tackle stores in Maine,” the announcer’s voice said. “Maine Audubon wants to pay your store for its lead tackle. A new law makes it illegal to sell painted lead jigs weighing 1 ounce or less or measuring 2.5 inches or less for use on inland waters, so we are offering stores up to $450 to buy the tackle back!”
Jenkins works at Marden’s Surplus and Salvage, and knew that the Marden’s stores around the state had taken off the shelves and set aside lead fishing tackle that is no longer legal for sale in the state of Maine. So she called the number listed at the end of the ad and found herself talking to Maine Audubon Wildlife Biologist Laura Williams, who leads the lead tackle buyback program aimed at getting these products, which are deadly to loons and other wildlife, out of circulation.
According to Danielle E. D’Auria, Waterbird Specialist, Wildlife Diversity Section, Maine Dept. Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, “The recent legislation targets painted lead jigs, which are just as deadly to a loon as bare lead jigs. The paint offers no protection to loons because it wears off as soon as it is ingested, exposing the loon to toxic lead. This is also true for other fish-eaters who may swallow a painted lead jig. Removing painted lead jigs from circulation in Maine was the next logical step to protecting our treasured loons and other wildlife.”
Ingesting lead tackle is one of the leading causes of death for adult Common Loons. Adult loons ingest lead in a few ways. They catch fish that have lead sinkers and jigs attached. They also can pick up lead objects that have fallen to the bottom of a lake or pond. Loons ingest small pebbles and gravel from lake bottoms in order to aid in digestion, and abandoned lead tackle can often be in the mix. Recent studies suggest that—due to the timing of deceased lead-poisoned loons accompanied by increased angling activity in July and August —the majority of lead tackle consumption is due to current fishing activity rather than old lost tackle accumulated on water bottoms. If we can reduce lead tackle currently being used by anglers in lakes it could help to decrease loon mortality. If a loon ingests even a small amount of lead tackle, it will die in two to four weeks.
Fast forward: Laura Williams went to Marden’s Distribution Center in Winslow and picked up 179 pounds, roughly 11,939 pieces of small-sized lead tackle, from Marden’s stores in Sanford, Biddeford, Scarborough, Gray, Lewiston, Waterville, Brewer, Ellsworth, Calais, Lincoln, Houlton, Presque Isle, and Madawaska.
Another retailer, Maine Sport Outfitters, knew the law change was coming and proactively pulled its painted lead jig inventory from shelves at all three of its store locations. “Maine Sport Outfitters prides itself on being a responsible retailer of quality outdoor gear and equipment,” says Troy Curtis, CEO and General Manager, Maine Sport Outfitters. “As a part of that promise to the community, we felt it was important to remove those products from our shelves that may damage or harm the natural environment that we love.”
The company was trying to figure out what to do with the jigs when a staff member heard about the buyback program. “If not for the Maine Audubon buyback program, we would have simply had to remove the lead products from our shelves and dispose of them,” says Curtis. “Fortunately, this program allowed us to recoup the cost of products and while doing the right thing. It was a very smooth and easy process.”
Says Williams, “Since they had already pulled all the lead tackle within the size ranges, the buyback process was super easy! We loaded up a box full of their lead tackle and gave them the maximum store allotment of $450. We were able to get a total weight of 13.2 lbs—which was 120 packages with 580 pieces of lead tackle—out of circulation.” Williams takes the lead to Radius Recycling, a company that collects and recycles metals, where the lead is melted down and turned into products like wheel weights.
Maine Audubon and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working together to reduce small-sized lead tackle at its source and compensate retailers for their lost investments. As of November, nine stores (representing 23 locations throughout Maine) have turned in 283.49 pounds (17,062 pieces) of lead tackle:
• Maine Sport Outfitters: Rockport, Rockland, and Camden
• Unc’l Lunkers: Bridgton
• Marden’s Surplus & Salvage: Sanford, Biddeford, Scarborough, Gray, Lewiston, Waterville, Brewer, Ellsworth, Calais, Lincoln, Houlton, Presque Isle, Madawaska
• Dag’s Bait & Tackle: Auburn
• River’s Edge Sports: Oquossoc
• Rangeley Region Sports Shop: Rangeley
• Beadle’s Bait and Tackle: Shapleigh
• Webhannet River Boat Yard: Wells
• Kennebunkport Marina: Kennebunkport
Maine Audubon volunteer Carole Dembek, who lives in Winthrop, has been doing outreach and approaching retailers to tell them about the program. Dembek says, “The retailers I visited were all supportive of eliminating lead tackle, saying it is the right thing to do for the environment and for wildlife, particularly loons. Most were aware of the new law related to painted jigs, and several retailers thought they had eliminated all lead products from their inventory but, once they checked, found products that qualified for the lead buyback program.”
Dembek is volunteering to help with this outreach because, she says, she was shocked to find out that many Maine loons die every year because they ingest lead fishing tackle from the bottom of lakes. “I know that anglers care about the environment and appreciate the beauty of our loons,” she says. “Loons do not deserve to suffer and die from lead poisoning when there are lead alternatives like tungsten available. My hope is that these buyback programs will raise awareness of the dangers of using lead tackle and that anglers will replace their lead tackle.”
As D’Auria, from the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, says, “Maine’s loon population continues to grow thanks to efforts by the Department and Maine Audubon to protect loons from lead.” She points out that past legislation has helped reduce the occurrence of loon deaths due to lead poisoning, and she wants people to know that their actions really can make a difference.
To participate, email conserve@maineaudubon.org or call 207-781-2330 x235. Visit fishleadfree.org/me for more information.
This project is funded in part by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, in which proceeds from the sale of a dedicated instant lottery ticket, currently Bee Bucks, are used to support outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation. For more information, visit www.maine.gov/ifw/mohf.
