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AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is reminding fishermen that the laws regarding lead fishing tackle, put in place to protect the loon population, have changed as of Sept. 1.
As of September 2017, the sale and use of bare lead jigs not meeting the length (2.5 inches) and/or weight (1 ounce) requirements is prohibited, the department said in a news release.
The sale and use of lead sinkers not meeting the length (2.5 inches) and/or weight (1 ounce) requirements is also prohibited. If a lead sinker is over 2.5 inches in length or it weighs over 1 ounce or both it is still legal to use and sell or offer for sale. If a sinker contains any amount of lead, it will be considered illegal if it doesn’t meet the length and weight requirements.
The department will interpret the definition of lead sinker to include any tackle that is permanently manufactured to the lead itself. When measuring for a minimum of 2.5 inches, the manufactured tackle will be included in the measurement. This will not include any additional items that have been added to the original manufacturing device.
“Please read the manufacturer’s label carefully to determine the weight of the lead sinker,” the release said. “If the lead is manufactured as part of other fishing tackle, the entire piece of equipment needs to be more than 1 ounce in weight. The definition of a lead sinker DOES NOT include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads.”
The regulations are necessary to protect the state’s wildlife, particularly the common loon. Ingested lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of death for adult common loons. There are about 4,500 adult loons across the state, and keeping lead sinkers out of Maine waters will increase the survival of these birds and will allow for continued population growth of this species across the northeast, the release said.
