BAYFIELD COUNTY LAKES FORUM RESOLUTION: TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE PHASE-OUT OF USE OF TOXIC TERMINAL FISHING TACKLE

Whereas the State of Wisconsin contains over 15,000 lakes, and many miles of streams and rivers, and

Whereas these waterways provide wildlife habitat and human recreational opportunities, and

Whereas fishing and hunting is an important recreational and economic resource, and

Whereas these waterways provide wildlife habitat for bald eagles, osprey, loons, waterfowl and an array of other aquatic birds, and

Whereas lead in the form of sinkers, jigs, and other types of terminal fishing tackle is now known to be lethal to ducks, loons, eagles, osprey, and other aquatic birds, and

Whereas lead fishing tackle ingestion is known to have injured or killed eagles, osprey, and loons in Bayfield County and in Wisconsin, and

Whereas lead poisoning is responsible for up to 30% of loon deaths, and

Whereas many tackle companies are now producing non-lead containing sinkers and jigs, and

Whereas lead poisoning due to ingestion of sinkers and jigs has resulted in Canada Goose meat being rejected for human consumption by state and county food pantry and food shelf administrators, and

Whereas these lead-free products are available to local tackle supply stores throughout Bayfield County and the State of Wisconsin, and

Whereas the States of Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine recognize this hazard and have passed laws banning certain types of lead fishing tackle. ( New Hampshire has enacted a multi-step ban that will ban all fishing weights of less than one ounce by 2006. New York, Vermont, and Maine ban the sale of lead fishing weights weighing one-half ounce or less.) Legislation to ban certain sizes of lead sinkers in Michigan has moved to committee. The use of lead sinkers weighing less than 50 grams (1.76 ounce) is banned in Canadian national parks and national wildlife areas. In Great Britain no fishing weights made of lead may be used except those of 0.06 grams or less and those of more than 28.35 grams (from 0.002 ounce to 1 ounce are ban). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has banned the use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than 28.35 g (1 ounce) in three National Wildlife Refuges, has also moved to create lead-free areas at 13 additional wildlife refuges in nine states where loons and anglers coexist. Additionally, the U.S. National Parks Service, under the National Park Services Act, has banned the use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than 28.35 g (1 ounce) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and

Whereas the Bayfield County Lakes Forum seeks the preservation and health of all water-dependant species for the enjoyment of the public, so therefore be it

Resolved that the Bayfield County Lakes Forum  requests the State of Wisconsin adopt regulations that phase out the sale and use of toxic terminal fishing tackle on the lakes, streams, and rivers of Wisconsin.

Approved unanimously on the 23rd day of August, 2010 by the Bayfield County Lakes Forum Board of Directors.

Jim Brakken, President                                                                        Sheree Bye, Secretary