Senate Bill 89 - Save the Loons

mcdude · 06-10-2013, 09:32 AM

This has been a great team effort. The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC), NH Lakes Association (NH LAKES), and NH Audubon have worked closely together in support of SB 89.

The NH House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 89 on May 22 by a vote of 225-142—a convincing margin. Meanwhile, efforts to unreasonably delay the bill's implementation (for six years) and to kill the bill (by tabling it) were defeated by equally comfortable margins. For information that responds to the arguments by opponents of the bill, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page by clicking here.
SB 89 will protect our state’s loon population by prohibiting the use and sale of toxic lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less—the largest known cause of New Hampshire adult loon mortality.
Loons do not reproduce until their sixth year of life or later, and loon pairs have an average of only one surviving chick every two years in New Hampshire. Therefore, survival of adult loons is the most important factor in assuring the continued viability of our state’s loon population. Unfortunately, New Hampshire lost 124 adult loons to ingested lead sinkers and jigs between 1989 and 2011. These deaths have had a large negative impact on our state’s small loon population.
Thank you to all of you who have played a crucial role in securing our legislative victories for loons this year.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.loonbill.org/

DEJ · 06-10-2013, 10:58 AM

New Hampshire Fish & Game did not support this and gave testimony at the hearings in opposition. I question why the lead headed tackle the Trout Unlimited fisherpeople use is not included in this legislation. I guess a small number of loon deaths from their lead headed fly's is acceptable according to the data provided. I would think the loon people would have included these lead fishing items in the bill. Something stinks here regarding Trout Unlimited, could it be their support for the bill got them a pass on their lead tackle?Hmmmm, food for thought.

06-10-2013, 09:32 AM	#1
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,366 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,053 Times in 493 Posts	Senate Bill 89 - Save the Loons This has been a great team effort. The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC), NH Lakes Association (NH LAKES), and NH Audubon have worked closely together in support of SB 89. The NH House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 89 on May 22 by a vote of 225-142—a convincing margin. Meanwhile, efforts to unreasonably delay the bill's implementation (for six years) and to kill the bill (by tabling it) were defeated by equally comfortable margins. For information that responds to the arguments by opponents of the bill, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page by clicking here. SB 89 will protect our state’s loon population by prohibiting the use and sale of toxic lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less—the largest known cause of New Hampshire adult loon mortality. Loons do not reproduce until their sixth year of life or later, and loon pairs have an average of only one surviving chick every two years in New Hampshire. Therefore, survival of adult loons is the most important factor in assuring the continued viability of our state’s loon population. Unfortunately, New Hampshire lost 124 adult loons to ingested lead sinkers and jigs between 1989 and 2011. These deaths have had a large negative impact on our state’s small loon population. Thank you to all of you who have played a crucial role in securing our legislative victories for loons this year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.loonbill.org/ __________________

06-10-2013, 10:58 AM	#2
DEJ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 553 Thanks: 526 Thanked 314 Times in 155 Posts	NH Fish & Game opposed this. New Hampshire Fish & Game did not support this and gave testimony at the hearings in opposition. I question why the lead headed tackle the Trout Unlimited fisherpeople use is not included in this legislation. I guess a small number of loon deaths from their lead headed fly's is acceptable according to the data provided. I would think the loon people would have included these lead fishing items in the bill. Something stinks here regarding Trout Unlimited, could it be their support for the bill got them a pass on their lead tackle?Hmmmm, food for thought.

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