Get The Lead ​Out

Explore our website to learn more about the ​dangers of lead fishing tackle, and how you can ​make a difference.

Fishing in Ontario

The 2015 recreational fishing survey estimated that ​there were approximately 1.2 million anglers across the ​province of Ontario (MNRF, 2022). In addition, Ontario ​is considered Canada's top fishing destination, meaning ​that people are coming from all over the country to fish ​in our waters (Destination Ontario, n.d.).

Fishing is incredibly important culturally for many ​Canadians, and its benefits are plentiful. Fishing is a ​great way to spend time outdoors and relax on the ​water. It can also be a great way to bring together ​family and friends each year, whether it's for the ​activity itself or the big cookout that comes after. For ​many people, fishing is more than just a leisurely ​activity: Ontario hosts over 40 fishing tournaments ​each year. So, what makes this an issue?

The problem is the use of lead tackle...

Lead is a naturally-occurring heavy metal found in the Earth’s crust. Lead has corrosion ​resistance and a low melting point, and is also one of the easiest metals to mine, therefore, ​humans have been sourcing it and finding a variety of uses for it for centuries (Haig et al., 2014 ​& Goddard et al., 2008). Before the seriousness of its hazards was truly realized, it was used in a ​variety of everyday products, such as lead-based paint (US EPA, n.d.). While there have been ​significant efforts to eliminate the use of lead from many household and daily-used products, it ​still remains a prevalent metal used in outdoor items. Specifically, lead can still be used in ​fishing tackle, and is still sold in stores.

**These are four different brands of fishing tackle, all of which are made of lead.

Lead tackle is ever-prevalent...

  • A study conducted by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in 2018, found that ​one third of anglers said that lead tackle made up roughly 75% of their terminal tackle ​(OFAH, 2018).
  • In Canada, the use of lead fishing tackle has only been banned in national parks and ​wildlife areas, which only equates to 3% of the country’s land cover (Government of ​Canada, n.d.). This means that lead tackle can still be used in all other areas across the ​country, including provincial parks.
  • Lead fishing tackle is still sold at most fishing retailers, including major outdoors stores, ​such as Canadian Tire, Bass Pro Shops, and Cabela’s.
  • One of the reasons lead tackle is so much more popular than its safer alternatives is price: ​lead tackle tends to be much cheaper (Government of Canada, n.d.).
  • Another reason lead tackle is still so popular is its familiarity: lead tackle has been around ​for a long time and it is very easy to use, meaning it is a type of tackle that anglers are all ​very comfortable with (OFAH, 2018).

How does it enter the ecosystem?

  • It can fall off of lures and end up at the bottom of the water to be ​consumed by any organism, including fish and birds (Sanborn, ​2002).
  • The lead sinker may catch a fish, but the fish can free itself, ​swimming away with a broken line trapped in its mouth or digestive ​system (Sanborn, 2002).
  • Aquatic birds rely on fish for their diet. They eat the fish that have ​consumed lead one way or another, and now the lead has entered ​the bird’s system as well.
  • Since aquatic birds need to swallow their food whole, many of them ​also swallow stones, pebbles, or grit to aid in digestion. These rocks, ​referred to as gastroliths, aid in digestion by rubbing against the ​other food stored in the gizzard and grinding it up (UCMP, 2007). ​When lead tackle falls to the bottom of a lakebed, it tends to be ​nearly invisible when combined with the rocks, grit, and silt. This ​means that when the birds dive down to swallow their gastroliths, ​they often, unknowingly swallow lead as well (Wolfe Lake ​Association, n.d.).

This is an image of a sample from the ​lake bed in Wolfe Lake in Eastern ​Ontario. There is lead tackle present ​in this image. Can you see it? What if ​you were at the bottom of a lake with ​silty water and minimal sunlight, ​would you still be able to identify it? ​(Wolfe Lake Association, n.d.).

Which species are affected ?

  • Essentially every fish species and aquatic bird species present in water bodies where lead ​tackle is used will be affected. This means that the most affected species will differ slightly ​depending on where you’re from.
  • Commonly fished species in Eastern Ontario include largemouth

bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, lake trout and

yellow perch (Rae, n.d.).

  • Aquatic bird species most affected by lead toxicity in Eastern Ontario are loons, eagles, ​swans and waterfowls (Wolfe Lake Association, n.d.).

How does lead consumption impact fish?

  • The lead isn’t necessarily fatal for the fish that consume it because it’s not usually consumed in large ​enough quantities.
  • However, the fish will still experience negative impacts, such as causing neurotoxicity and oxidative stress ​(Lee et al., 2019).

Biomagnification

  • The bigger issue is biomagnification: the concentration of lead increases at every level of the food ​chain (Lee et al., 2019), meaning, the risk of lead poisoning is lowest in fish and higher and more ​deadly for other organisms, such as aquatic birds.

How does lead tackle impact birds?

  • Once the bird has ingested lead, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and lead poisoning occurs.
  • Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in birds include lethargy, weakness, green-stained faces or cloaca ​(excretory and genital cavity in birds), loss of flight ability, weight loss, and emaciation (CWHC, n.d. & ​CWHL, n.d.).
  • Lead exposure can also affect the structure and function of the kidneys, bones, the central nervous ​system, and the hematopoietic system (Haig et al., 2014).
  • The severity of lead poisoning will depend on multiple factors including the individual species (species ​have varying tolerances), the bird’s size and age, and the amount of lead ingested (Haig et al., 2014). ​However, one lead sinker is usually enough to kill a full-szied loon or bald eagle (CWHL, n.d.).

Scary Statistics

  • Between 1989 and 2012, 49% of adult loon mortalities were the result of ingesting lead ​fishing tackle. Subsequently, this caused a 43% reduction in population size (CBC, 2017).
  • Lead poisoning from ingestion of lead tackle is the single highest cause of death for loons in ​Canada (Government of Canada, n.d.).
  • For waterfowl, deaths caused by lead poisoning alone result in 3-4% loss in population every ​single year (Haig et al., 2014).
  • The Government of Canada estimates that approximately 460 tons worth of lead fishing ​tackle are lost in the environment every single year (Government of Canada, n.d.).
  • A study by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters found that 28% of respondents ​were “not at all concerned” about the impacts of lead tackle on wildlife (OFAH, 2018).

What You Can Do

The death of aquatic birds due to lead poisoning is entirely preventable. ​The number one thing you can do is to stop using lead fishing tackle.


  • There are multiple safer alternatives available in Canada ​including tin, bismuth, tungsten, antimony, steel, brass, terpene ​resin putty, and polypropylene (Government of Canada, n.d.).
  • For those worried about the cost of alternatives, steel tends to ​be the cheapest of all of them (Government of Canada, n.d.).
  • Many of the alternatives are not difficult to find and can also be ​found at major outdoor retailers, such as Canadian Tire, ​Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Sail, and Fishing World.

Here’s a tip...

If you have some fishing tackle and you’re not ​sure whether it’s lead or not--maybe it was given ​as a gift, maybe you’ve just had it for so long you ​don’t remember--there’s one easy thing you can ​do to find out. If you rub lead fishing tackle ​against a piece of paper, just like a lead pencil, it ​will leave a mark. But, if you rub tackle against a ​piece of paper, and it doesn’t leave a mark, it isn’t ​lead and is likely safe to use!

What should you do if you find a bird that you suspect has lead ​poisoning?

  • Do not try to touch or approach the bird.
  • Whether the bird is alive or dead, contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperation (CWHC).

CWCH Phone ​Number:

1-866-673-4781

CWCH Online:

https://cwhc.wildlifesu​bmissions.org#/

Thank you for learning with us! Take the following survey to let ​us know where you stand on lead fishing tackle.

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