American Sportfishing Association Criticizes NWR Lead Tackle Ban

[Birdsage]

September 15, 2022:
The American Sportfishing Association issued a statement saying that the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s restrictions on lead tackle in some National Wildlife Refuges is not evidence-based and harms the tackle industry.
American Sportfishing Association Issues Statement on National Wildlife Refuge Lead Tackle Restrictions - ASA
Sounds like a fishy example of economically-motivated anti-environmentalism, doesn’t it?
Also, this isn’t the first time they’ve made this claim.

 

[Pantheraman]

Seeing as rainbow trout get dumped into waterways to increase angler opportunity despite being listed as being one of the worst invasive species, I have no pity for the anglers.

 

[Birdsage]

…I have no pity for the anglers.

I think that comment would offend a good number of anglers. According to a 2016 Nature Conservancy article criticizing an earlier statement by the ASA, “the sportfishing community that ASA claims to speak for” actually does support non-toxic tackle, more so than you would expect. It appears that this opposition to lead tackle largely comes from lobbying organizations, not anglers themselves.
Recovery: Saving Loons from Lead Fishing Tackle - Cool Green Science

…rainbow trout get dumped into waterways to increase angler opportunity despite being listed as being one of the worst invasive species…

At least a few anglers do actually understand the problem that introduced game species pose:
Brown Trout Salmo trutta
Troutopia
50 Fish, 50 States: Yellowstone’s Native Fish - Cool Green Science

 

[birdsandbats]

Seeing as rainbow trout get dumped into waterways to increase angler opportunity despite being listed as being one of the worst invasive species, I have no pity for the anglers.

I highly recommend reading the book Fishing through the Apocalypse by Matthew Miller about the topic of how angler's attitudes affect conservation. It's fascinating.

 

[Birdsage]

I highly recommend reading the book Fishing through the Apocalypse by Matthew Miller about the topic of how angler's attitudes affect conservation. It's fascinating.

Not to mention, it’s written by a fisherman who actually cares about conservation and understands the invasive nature of game species. He was the author of one of the articles I brought up.
Regarding Pantheraman’s comment, it appears that he thinks a lead tackle ban would be a good way to punish fishermen for the damage their favorite game fish have done.
To clarify my earlier comment, I was saying that in fact, according to the 2016 Nature Conservancy article, most recreational fishermen, which the Association claims to represent, wouldn’t really mind switching to lead-free tackle. Thus, it is mainly the lobbying organizations like the Association (that don’t represent fishermen themselves, but the companies that make and sell lead tackle), that are actually acting against anti-lead tackle initiatives.
Of course, some fishermen (and organizations like the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) do definitely buy into the Association’s false claims about lead-free tackle.

 

[Pantheraman]

Thanks for the clarification guys.