Freshwater ban on lead sinkers and jigs set

Sunday December 25, 2011

LENOX

As of January 1, lead fishing sinkers and lead jigs weighing less than one ounce will be prohibited in all freshwaters of the Commonwealth. This includes lead sinkers and jigs (weighing less than an ounce) which are painted, coated with some other substance or with attached “skirts”.

Other types of sinkers, fishing lures or fishing tackle including, artificial lures, hooks, weighted flies, lead-core, buzz-baits, spinner baits, or other weighted fishing lines may still be used for freshwater fishing. Ecologically safe alternatives to lead sinkers and lead jigs (such as steel and tin) are readily available from many sources and come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, weights, and sizes to meet every type of fishing need.

In 2009, the Fisheries and Wildlife Board unanimously voted to prohibit the use of these lead sinkers and jigs with the provision that the regulation go into effect Jan. 1, 2012. This delay gave manufacturers and anglers time to adjust to these changes.

“The regulation was implemented primarily to protect the state’s small population of Common Loon [Gavia immer],” said Dr. Mark Tisa, Assistant Director of Fisheries.

Common Loons are a state listed Species of Special Concern.

Historically, the Common Loon nested in Massachusetts, but was extirpated in the late nineteenth century. In 1975, a pair of loons was discovered nesting in Quabbin Reservoir. The population has increased, and today

approximately 32 territorial pairs can be found on 14 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs in the Commonwealth, which is the southern limit of the loon’s breeding range. Large piscivorous (fish-eating) birds that rely on sight to capture their prey, loons require relatively large nesting territories and water of high clarity; hence their population growth here is limited by the availability of this habitat.

Ingestion of lead fishing gear is the single largest cause of mortality for adult loons in fresh water in New England. Veterinarians at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine examined 483 dead adult loons and determined that approximately 44 percent of them died as the result of lead poisoning.

Their research documented that ingestion of small lead sinkers and jigs accounted for approximately 79% of the lead objects recovered from loons that died from lead poisoning in fresh water. A single lead sinker or split shot can poison a loon. A bird with lead poisoning exhibits physical and behavioral changes, including loss of balance, gasping, tremors, and impaired ability to fly. The weakened bird is more vulnerable to predators and may have trouble feeding, mating, nesting, and caring for its young. A loon becomes emaciated and often dies within 2-to-3 weeks after ingesting the lead.

Loons ingest lead sinkers and lead jigs in two ways. One is when loons take minnows hooked as bait on a fishing line. The loon breaks off the line and then swallows the hook, line, swivel, and sinker or jig. A second ingestion method apparently occurs when loons ingest small pebbles from lake bottoms to help grind food in their gizzards.

It appears they may inadvertently swallow lead sinkers and jigs while engaged in this activity, or are perhaps actively choosing them for some other reason (possibly because of their unique size, shape, or shine).

“Through this new conservation regulation it is possible to reduce the chance of lead poisoning of loons, a goal all sportsmen should support,” said Dr. Tisa. “Most anglers who have experienced the presence of loons would agree that sightings of these magnificent birds and the enjoyment of their iconic, eerie calls add to the quality of any fishing experience.”

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In early November, 28 hunters participated statewide in a special three-day deer season hunt for paraplegics at five locations in Massachusetts. A total of seven deer (one buck, one button buck, and five does) were taken for an overall success rate of 25 percent. Locally, one deer was taken in Williamstown and one in Mount Washington. Two of the seven deer taken during this hunt were the first deer ever for the successful hunters.

The hunt was coordinated by the DFW with assistance from state agencies, military personnel, and volunteer sportsmen and women. Hunt locations included: Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown, South Post in Devens, private land in Williamstown, property in and around Mount Washington State Forest, and the Otis/Edwards Military Reservation in Falmouth.

“This special hunt’s success is due to the assistance of staff, dedicated volunteers, and continuous support from involved, both private and public,” said Trina Moruzzi, DFW biologist and hunt coordinator.

When a hunter successfully shoots a deer, volunteers assist the hunter by retrieving the deer, field dressing it, and getting it properly checked by DFW staff on site.

Paraplegic sportsmen and women interested in participating in next year’s hunt should contact Moruzzi at (508) 389-6318.

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Preliminary totals for Western District (WD) check stations for the 2011 shotgun deer hunting season reveal that 688 deer were harvested. That compares to 623 last year. Although a deer may be checked into a local check stations, it does not necessarily mean that it was harvested locally, especially with stations that border other hunting zones. That’s why it is necessary to wait until the final state tally is released to find out how many deer were actually taken in our area.

Depending on the muzzleloader results, it’s beginning to look like it will have been a good local deer harvest.

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Some 13 birds were checked into WD check stations during the recent fall turkey hunting season. This compares with 60 taken last year and 14 in 2009. The preliminary 2011 WD totals, counting the 760 that were bagged this spring is 773 compared to 645 last year and 787 in 2009.

Questions/comments: Berkwoodsandwaters@roadrunner.com. Phone/fax: 413-637-1818.