The Dangers Of Lead-Based Fishing Gear
Lead-based fishing weights, like split shots, sinkers, jigs, lures, and trolling weights, are harmful to both wild animals and people. These weights can get lost in water, where they contaminate the water and threaten many species. For example, birds like common loons and swans often die from swallowing fishing weights made of lead.
In this review, the authors explore the harms of lead fishing gear, including the types of gear that cause problems and the specific effects on humans and wild animals. They also assess the existing efforts to mitigate the effects of lead gear and recommend ways of improving the situation to protect humans and animals.
According to the authors, more than 30 bird species, three species of mammal, and two reptile species have been harmed by swallowing lead fishing weights. Due to specific foraging behaviors, around 75 North American bird species risk consuming these toxic tackles. However, collecting data on lead ingestion can be complicated due to difficulties in detecting poisoned birds and limited research funding.
In England between 1980 and 1981, lead poisoning from fishing weights caused half of all mute swan deaths. This translated to 3,000-3,500 swan deaths in the U.K. each year. But after laws were passed to ban lead fishing weights in England and Wales in 1987, deaths dropped from 34% to 6%. Still, lead poisoning continues to threaten mute swans, as seen by high levels of lead in their blood. More so than other types of swans, mute swans are especially at risk because they prefer aquatic habitats.
The common loon is another bird with a high death rate from lead poisoning. This is especially true for adult loons during their summer breeding. Fishing seems to play a big part in this problem. Differences in loon sizes also impact whether they consume lead, as larger loons may ingest the bigger fish that break free from fishing lines. Because loons seem to be attracted to jigs and sinkers weighing up to 30.4, one study suggested using lead-free alternatives for jigs and sinkers weighing less than 28.4 grams.
Even low exposure to lead is unsafe and can cause health problems. In people, sublethal exposure to lead can result in issues like metabolic problems, mental dysfunction, and weak immune systems. One study found that about 24% of lead left on the skin from handling fishing sinkers could be accidentally swallowed. Birds can have trouble flying, damaged organs, and higher death rates if they’re exposed to even small amounts of lead.
Efforts to reduce the use of lead fishing gear have had limited success in European countries and several U.S. states. The authors recommend a combination of legislation to restrict lead gear use coupled with educational campaigns. Legislation needs to ban both the sale and use of all types of lead tackle that harm wild animals, as partial bans will still allow some lead into the environment. Making sure these laws are followed at all levels of selling and making tackles is also crucial. Finally, there are many different terms for lead fishing gear, so policies banning problematic items will need to use inclusive language that pro-industry groups can’t exploit.
Managing lead fishing tackle is a difficult and controversial issue. Different groups like government agencies, conservationists, fishers, manufacturers, and stores often have conflicting opinions and priorities. It’s essential to understand how people think and act to achieve conservation goals, so the authors recommend future research on stakeholders’ attitudes toward wild animals affected by lead gear and how people will respond to gear restrictions.
Finally, coating fishing gear with paint or other materials has been said to prevent lead from getting into the body, but the authors claim this doesn’t work. Tests have shown that the coatings wear away quickly, exposing the lead. Therefore, excluding coated or painted fishing tackle from legislation could harm wild animals.
Fortunately, there are many materials that can replace lead in fishing, like natural rock, porcelain, and non-toxic metals such as tungsten, tin, bismuth, and steel. These are often priced similarly to lead products. The authors say that regulators must watch out for misleading labels on products that contain toxic metals like zinc and cadmium, which are sometimes sold as “lead-free” in the United States.
In sum, we urgently need better ways to make, sell, and use non-toxic fishing gear. This includes educating people about the dangers of lead and making alternatives more available and affordable.Taxing toxic fishing gear and using the money for research and education may be useful. Better ways to gather information on lead poisoning in wild animals are also needed, and citizen science efforts may help with this.