AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife announces prohibitions on the use of lead fishing sinkers and jigs.
The sale and use of lead sinkers not meeting the length (2.5 inches) and/or weight (1 ounce) requirements is prohibited. If a lead sinker is over 2.5 inches in length or it weighs over 1 ounce or both it is legal to use and sell or offer for sale.
Additionally, as of September 2017, the sale and use of bare lead jigs not meeting the length (2.5 inches) and/or weight (1 ounce) requirements is prohibited.
Department officials said via a press release that if a sinker contains any amount of lead, it will be considered illegal if it doesn’t meet the length and weight requirements.
The Department will interpret the definition of lead sinker to include any tackle that is permanently manufactured to the lead itself. When measuring for a minimum of 2.5 inches, the manufactured tackle will be included in the measurement. This will not include any additional items that have been added to the original manufacturing device.
Anglers should read the manufacturer’s label carefully to determine the weight of the lead sinker. If the lead is manufactured as part of other fishing tackle, the entire piece of equipment needs to be more than 1 ounce in weight. The definition of a lead sinker does not include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or jig heads.
DIFW maintains fishing lead free is better for lakes and wildlife. Ingested lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of death for adult common loons, of which there are around 4,500 adults across the state. Keeping lead sinkers out of Maine waters will increase the survival of these birds and will allow for continued population growth of this species across the northeast.
For more information, please visit https://fishleadfree.org/.
