- Target:
- California Government
- Region:
- United States of America
Why lead tackles are banned from other states:
Lead is toxic and the lead tackle that is lost by anglers causes lead poisoning in wildlife, especially birds. Birds swallow small pebbles to help grind up the food they consume. Lead sinkers and jigs are mistaken for small pebbles and swallowed by the birds and held in their gizzards for a long time, which in many cases leads to their death. Hence the size restrictions. Lead also can contaminate soil and water, and then be taken up by plants and aquatic invertebrates.
Lead is used popularly, so cannot ignore its harmful effects → Why is lead so popular?
Lead has a low melting point, low cost, high ductility, and malleability. The best substitution for lead is tungsten. Although this metal is more expensive, tungsten is heavier than lead which allows for smaller tackle profiles with better sensitivity.
Lead poisoning: Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems in humans and animals. When lead fishing weights or lead sinkers are lost or discarded in the water, they can be ingested by fish, birds, and other wildlife, leading to lead poisoning.
Habitat destruction: Fishing weights made of lead can cause damage to aquatic habitats. When fishing weights become snagged or caught on underwater structures, they can pull up rocks, vegetation, and other materials, leading to habitat destruction.
Pollution: When lead fishing weights and sinkers break down in the water, they can release lead particles into the water, leading to pollution.
https://youtu.be/GEcXq1fjnEI (Initiation Video)
Since fishing has long been a hobby for people of all ages, fishing techniques and equipment have developed over time to meet the demands and preferences of fishermen. One of the most commonly used substances in fishing is lead. Nonetheless, due to its extensive use, there are rising worries regarding lead's effects on aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. While lead has unique properties that make it useful for fishing, the negative effects of using it must be taken into account. This petition aims to explore the reasons why lead should be banned in California and safe and effective alternatives that can be used to replace lead.
Who is impacted
Wildlife: Lead poisoning is a major cause of death for birds and other wildlife. When lead sinkers and jigs are lost in bodies of water, they can be ingested by animals, causing serious health problems and even death.
Humans: Lead poisoning can cause a variety of health problems, including developmental delays, behavioral problems, and learning disabilities. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning.
The environment: Lead can contaminate water sources and soil, harming ecosystems and wildlife. It can also enter the food chain, posing a risk to human health.
What is at stake?
If we do not take action to ban the use of lead fishing tackle, we are putting the health of our wildlife, our environment, and our people at risk. Lead poisoning is a serious problem that can have devastating consequences as noted above. We must act now to protect our health and our environment.
Why is now the time to act?
There are a number of reasons why now is the time to ban the use of lead fishing tackles. First, there are a number of safe and effective alternatives available. Second, there is growing public awareness of the dangers of lead poisoning (Example: Canadian Veterinary Medical Association clearly stands for banning the use of lead fishing tackle [https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/position-statements/statements/use-of-lead-fishing-tackle-and-lead-shot-in-canada/]). Lastly and most importantly, any action to protect wildlife, health, and the environment should always be "proactive." We think it's too late if we waste the time to prove it when it's related to those three factors. We understand there were a couple of pushbacks saying there is not enough scientific evidence to show that lead fishing tackle directly causes significant environmental damage, but California is already behind other states that have restricted lead fishing gear, like New Hampshire (2000), Maine (2002), New York (2004), Vermont (2006), Massachusetts (2012), and Washington (2012).
This petition is to urge the state government to take action now to ban the use of lead fishing tackle. It is the right thing to do for our health, environment, and our wildlife.
Please Sign the petition to ban lead fishing in California!
Who we are: Yeondoo Lee (Legal Consultant), Jaehyoung Park (Primary Investigator), Chloe Park (Social Impact Manager)
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Ban Lead Fishing in California petition to California Government was written by Chloe Park and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.