Calling all Maine fishing tackle retailers: Maine Audubon is offering to buy back your store’s lead tackle to help get it off the shelves—and keep it out of lakes.

As of September 1, 2024, the sale of painted lead jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring less than 2.5 inches long is prohibited, and the use of these jigs will be prohibited starting September 2026. In 2023, the Maine State Legislature passed LD 958, which phases out the sale and use of small-sized painted lead jigs, closing a loophole in the lead tackle laws. The state already prohibits the sale and use of bare (unpainted) lead jigs and sinkers containing any amount of lead that weigh 1 ounce or less or measure 2 1/2 inches long or less.

Lead tackle is one of the leading causes of death for adult Common Loons. Adult loons catch fish with lead sinkers and jigs attached or they pick up lead objects while eating gravel, that they need to aid in digestion, from lake bottoms. Recent studies suggest that—due to the timing of deceased lead poisoned loons accompanied by increased angling activity in July and August —the majority of lead tackle consumption is due to current fishing activity rather than old lost tackle accumulated on water bottoms. If we can reduce lead tackle currently being used by anglers in lakes it could help to decrease these numbers.

As this new law comes into effect, Maine Audubon is working to do outreach and public education around this issue, and also to help retailers make this transition by offering to buy back current stock of painted lead jigs within the prohibited size range.

Maine Audubon and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working together to reduce small-sized lead tackle at its source and compensate retailers for their lost investments. To participate, contact Maine Audubon Wildlife Biologist Laura Williams (email: conserve@maineaudubon.org or call: 207-781-2330 ext 235). Retailers can set up an appointment for Laura to come to their store, inventory the painted lead jig tackle selection, and reimburse retailers for the wholesale value plus a small markup to help offset costs.

For more about Fish Lead Free, visit fishleadfree.org/me

This project is funded by Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund with support from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.