Washington Lead Tackle Ban 2012

Comment

Comment by Marc Marcantonio on January 16, 2012 at 7:27pm

The committee hearing is this Thursday morning at 8 a.m. with the Environmental Committee.  Public testimony will be accepted, and this is your chance to provide input.  I will try to be there, but I am scheduled for an important medical appointment at that same time for my melanoma.  If I can't change my appointment I will not be able to testify in person (I will in writing regardless).

 

I contacted the ASA, and Keep America Fishing and they will be sending out legislative alerts across the nation.

 

We need to get other organizations on board quickly.  So far Puget Sound Anglers is on board, and CCA is considering (what's to consider?), but we need every type of fishing community to voice their opinion now!

 

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio

Comment by D.J. LaRoche on January 15, 2012 at 8:48pm

I have followed the link and written a letter to them too.  We can not just stand by and watch this happen.  We need to act.  I have already been reading posts from guys in Massachusets about this same thing.  They passed it there, and now those anglers are screwed.  I couldn't imagine paying for tungsten football heads or drop shot sinkers.  I couldn't afford to fish anymore.

Comment by rzone on January 15, 2012 at 4:08pm

Can the bird people produce any credible evidence that fishing weights are killing birds? We need to counter them, or they going to push this through based on feelings and junk science. I suggest to the state of WA to be careful, don't risk the loss of revenue without studying the effects of the lead ban for 5 years or so to ensure there is a solid reason to ban lead. We are reasonable, show us the need.

Comment by Marc Marcantonio on January 15, 2012 at 3:28pm

Sorry, I can't seem to get the information formatted properly to appear on this website.  Here is the web site from the birders so you can read their post there (scroll down to Wed, 11 Jan to find the right post).

http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/INNW.html

Comment by Marc Marcantonio on January 15, 2012 at 3:25pm

Here is what we are up against...what are you going to do about it?  I suggest you do what they suggest, but in opposition, and get everyone you know involved to fight this.

 

Subject: HB 2241 - Reducing the Introduction of Lead into the Aquatic Environment
From: "Bill" <bill AT liderengineering.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:57:00 -0800

Attention Audubon and Bird Activists, your help is needed to ban small lead sinkers that poison 

birds.   The full text of HB 2241 is available for review at:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2241  &year=2011#history HB 2241 to reduce

the amount of lead in the aquatic environment was introduced yesterday by Luis Moscoso and 

co-sponsored by Representatives Moscoso  , Appleton  , Fitzgibbon  , Jinkins  , Pollet  , Roberts,

Dickerson  , Kenney  . 

This is the most important legislation to protect birds and human health to be introduced this 

session. Please see the attachment for more information. It is important that you have you and

your organization contact the members of the House Environment Committee and your own 

representative and request that they support HB 2241.  Upthegrove, Dave (D) Chair,  

Tharinger, Steve (D) Vice Chair,  Hansen, Drew (D),  Jinkins, Laurie (D),  Morris, Jeff (D),  

Moscoso, Luis (D),  Pollet, Gerry (D),  Takko, Dean (D),  Wylie, Sharon (D),  Fitzgibbon, Joe (D),

Short, Shelly (R),  Harris, Paul (R),  Crouse, Larry (R),  Nealey, Terry (R),  Pearson, Kirk (R), 

Comment by Marc Marcantonio on January 15, 2012 at 3:17pm

Here is a post I found on the NW Inland Birders website.  You can see who is supporting this bill, and what they plan.  If you care about your fishing at all, you had better get busy and plan on mounting our counterattack. 

How ironic that birdwatchers don't pay squat to fund biologists or environmental conservation efforts through licenses or Sport Fishing Restoration Act taxes; yet they want to ban the very activity that provides the funding stream for biologists and habitat for the birds.  These people are clueless, and so are the legislators who have signed on to this!

Here is the post I found on the birders' website:

 

Subject: HB 2241 - Reducing the Introduction of Lead into the Aquatic Environment
From: "Bill" <bill AT liderengineering.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:57:00 -0800

Attention Audubon and Bird Activists, your help is needed to ban small lead sinkers that poison birds.      The full text of HB 2241 is available for review at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2241  &year=2011#history HB 2241 to reduce the amount of lead in the aquatic environment was introduced yesterday by Luis Moscoso and co-sponsored by Representatives Moscoso  , Appleton  , Fitzgibbon  , Jinkins  , Pollet  , Roberts  , Dickerson  , Kenney  . This is the most important legislation to protect birds and human health to be introduced this session. Please see the attachment for more information. It is important that you have you and your organization contact the members of the House Environment Committee and your own representative and request that they support HB 2241.  Upthegrove, Dave (D) Chair,  Tharinger, Steve (D) Vice Chair,  Hansen, Drew (D),  Jinkins, Laurie (D),  Morris, Jeff (D),  Moscoso, Luis (D),  Pollet, Gerry (D),  Takko, Dean (D),  Wylie, Sharon (D),  Fitzgibbon, Joe (D),  Short, Shelly (R),  Harris, Paul (R),  Crouse, Larry (R), 

Comment by Marc Marcantonio on January 15, 2012 at 3:03pm

Rzone, actually all the other parts are already law; only the portions about lead fishing tackle under 1 oz are added and being considered by HB 2241.

Everyone who thought we were crazy for saying the Loon lead ban was the camels nose under the tent; I rest my case!

I have notified the ASA to help get the word out across the country.

Everyone that cares about fishing and the wildlife supported by fishing licenses and Sport Fishing Restoration Fund taxes needs to contact all of their legislators and object to this bill!

I will try to make it to Olympia to testify against it.

ciao,
Marc Marcantonio 

Comment by rzone on January 15, 2012 at 12:45pm

Thank you Mark! Ray Charles could have seen this coming and he is blind + dead.

The link off your web site makes it really easy to send one message to your Senator and Representatives. I have done this.

----- Here is my message to them -----

Dear Senator Pflug, Reresentative's Rodne and Anderson,

I oppose HB-2241 as written because I do not believe that sufficient scientific evidence exists showing fishing weights (sinkers) cause any significant harm to the environment. Sport fishing in our state brings in considerable revenue and is an activity that many families enjoy. Passing this bill as written is an attack on sport fishing, and will result in less people fishing, thus less revenue to our state at a time when we need revenue.

Many parts of HB-2241 seem OK, I might support it if all LEAD used for commercial or sport fishing were exempted.

Please do not let this bill get passed as written, the alternative to LEAD is Tungsten, and the production of Tungsten is far worse for the environment than lead weights used for fishing lures.

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