Over 3000 tons of lead is used every year to manufacture fishing weights - most of that to replace weights lost while fishing. Lost lead fishing weights end up on the bottom of ponds and streams where loons and swans scoop up pebbles to help grind up the vegetation they eat. If they eat a lead weight, they can die from lead poisoning in about two weeks. Fish who swallow lead weights can die, or be eaten by raptors such as bald eagles. About 25% of bald eagles, about 32% of trumpeter swans and up to 52% of loons die from lead poisoning every year.

People do not realize that by making a simple choice - buying non-lead fishing weights - they can save the waterfowl and raptors who are innocent victims of lead fishing weights.

I organized teams of Boy Scouts to package up sample non-lead weights and we attended fishing derbies. At these derbies, we talked with fishermen and persuaded them to empty the lead out of their tackle boxes. While this was effective, we realized that we cannot talk with every fisherman individually, so I embarked on an education campaign using the media. Through television, magazine and newspaper articles and interviews, I have reached hundreds of thousands of fishermen. This project has won national and international recognition. I just won a grant from SeaWorld to help produce Public Service Announcements. Now I need more money to continue educating people to make responsible choices when they buy fishing tackle.

There are two ways: make sure that any fishing weights you use are not made of lead. Safely recycle any lead weights at a hazardous waste collection site - don't just throw them away. And make sure that you tell everyone else to ask for and buy unleaded!