LD 958

Lead poisoning has long been one of the leading causes of death for adult loons in Maine. When loons ingest lost or discarded fishing tackle, or swallow fish that have ingested tackle, they can be exposed to hazardous and life threatening chemicals – including lead – that are contained in that tackle. Following a five-year phaseout process, it has been illegal to sell and/or use small-sized lead sinkers and bare “unpainted” jigs in Maine since 2017. While this law and subsequent education programs have proven effective in many ways, a loophole allowed for the sale and use of small-sized painted lead jigs, which experts believe and research indicates are still impacting loons since the paint does nothing to make the lead safer. Exactly ten years after the last bill to protect loons from lead was passed, LD 958 closed this loophole and prohibits the sale and use of this painted fishing tackle.