PUBLICATION:        The Toronto Sun 

DATE:                         2004.02.19

EDITION:                    Final 

SECTION:                  Sports 

PAGE:                         99 

BYLINE:                     JOHN KERR 

COLUMN:                  Outdoors 

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SINKER BAN A STINKER

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Now that the federal government has picked hunters' pockets through the useless long-gun registry, it is about to nickel and dime anglers. On Tuesday, David Anderson, the minister of the environment, announced he will soon propose regulations to "bring about an eventual prohibition on the import, manufacture, and sale of fishing sinkers and jigs containing lead."

Steve Wendt, chief of migratory birds conservation with the Canadian Wildlife Service arm of the Ministry of Environment, said, "This is not aimed at the individual user."

Let us hope not. The cost to replace our lead fishing gear all at once with more expensive non-toxic alternatives would be astronomical.

For example, in my case, and I doubt I am an exception, the amount of lead sinkers and jigs in my tackle boxes is surprising. It puts in doubt Anderson's claim that 500 tonnes of such baubles end up in our lakes and rivers each year. I think they all end up in my basement.

In reality, all anglers buy the latest fish-catchers, including improved jigs, each year. Sure, we lose a few while fishing, but most of them just accumulate in tackle boxes and fishing vests.

Replacing them could cost an avid angler hundreds of dollars, at the very least. In my case, the bill would likely top $1,000.

This is not the first time politicians have tried to ban lead fishing gear. Several private-member's bills introduced in the past six years never got past first reading.

Anderson, however, plans to simply alter existing regulations, says Wendt, sidestepping the legislature.

The use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing less than 50 grams (1.765 ounces) has been a hot issue for more than a decade, tied in to the ban on lead shot for hunting waterfowl that took effect in Canada in the late 1990s.

Scientific evidence was overwhelming that a buildup of lead pellets in popular hunting areas was poisoning waterfowl that ingested it, but the case against lead fishing sinkers and jigs in Canada is less clear. Statistics being thrown about are based on relatively small numbers of loon deaths.

Anderson is going to have a tough time proving there's a problem significant enough to justify banning lead tackle. Nonetheless, he has started the process.

Environment Canada is "working with stakeholders ... to ensure a smooth transition to lead-free products." Public consultation on proposed regulations resulting from this will begin within the next six months.

The whole issue is a tempest in a teapot. From what I have seen on the water and in reports, any problem with waterbirds and lead tackle in Canada is minor by comparison with lead shotgun pellets.

That said, conservation-minded anglers should be concerned and voluntarily do all they can to limit loss of lead sinkers and jigs.

After a day of fishing, take home tackle that is no longer useable and dispose of it safely. This includes used fishing line and hooks, which birds can tangle in.

And, while there are some non-toxic fishing products on the market, the selection is sparse. Hopefully it will increase as lead tackle becomes unavailable.

In this regard, ammunition manufacturers are far ahead of most tackle companies in their selection of lead alternatives.

Lead is a good all-round element for many fishing applications, but materials that weigh less or more than lead can outperform it in specific applications. As the lead ban moves forward, I will examine those options in another column.

BAN ON LEAD SINKERS? LOTS OF EMOTION BUT SCIENCE LACKING: BREITKREUZ

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/speeches/june-13-2002.htm

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES OF MOTION -M-414 - June 13, 2002

M-414 - Ms. Pierrette Venne (Saint-Bruno--Saint-Hubert, BQ) moved: That, in the opinion of this House, the government should, in compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, amend its regulations to replace the use of lead fishing weights and baits by any other non toxic matter that would end the intoxication of migratory birds, including the loon, caused by the swallowing of lead.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/205_2002-06-13/HAN205-E.htm#OOB-287381