“It’s not a good policy to put a toxic metal in our waters.” Susan Solterman, policy director for Audubon Minnesota.

Each year, millions of birds die from lead poisoning. The cause? Sinkers and jigs used in fishing. 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. This lead is dangerous to humans as well – lead sinkers and jigs could be swallowed by children and lead dust can contaminate homes.

Alternatives to lead sinkers and jigs exist, and are available at reasonable prices. It just makes sense to move away from lead tackle. Lead poisoning and the resultant water bird deaths are preventable.

This website offers the tools necessary for you to introduce and pass legislation to protect water birds from preventable deaths involving lead in your state. These tools include three sample bills (addressing the sale of lead tackle, the use of lead sinkers and jigs, and public education about the problem), talking points, press clips, a fact pack, links, and other background information.

We may have other useful materials on this subject which are not posted on our website. Please feel free to contact us at info@serconline.org or call our office in Madison, WI at (608) 252-9800.

If you’ve used this site and found it helpful or, if you have suggestions about how it could be made more helpful, please let us know. Please feel free to use the sample bill text included here in your state. If you do, please notify us.