Cabela’s e-mail criticizes EPA ban on lead fishing tackle

Posted on 03 September 2010

Cabela's sent an e-mail this week to customers informing them that last month the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and others to ban lead from ammunition and fishing tackle.

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The products include sinkers, jigs, weighted fly lines and components containing lead, such as brass and ballast in lures, spinners and stick baits.

On Aug. 27, the EPA denied the petition regarding ammunition, but let stand the petition to ban lead in fishing tackle. The EPA has opened a short period for public comment.

"Such a ban would cause prices of fishing products to skyrocket. Alternative metals can cost from six to 15 times more than lead and most do not perform as well," Cabela's said in its e-mail. "For many, fishing would no longer be the affordable sport it is now."

Those interested in submitting comments opposing this ban can click here for information.

Comments

It's Stupid...There is no evidence that lead leaches out in seawater.

Enough is enough already. How about you force these groups to produce a REAL STUDY demonstrating the so called negative effects that are being caused directly from fishing weights. I would like to know just how many peolple or any other animal or fish are dying from our lost sinkers. I would like to see the test results on how fast this lead is breaking down and being absorbed into the water or soil and what are the dramatic effects. They don't want to go that rought because there is no dramatic effects from these products. The only dramatic effect will be more lost jobs and higher prices.

The EPA always says that the financial factor is not their concern. Looking out for the fuzzy creatures who don't have a voice is what they're there for. Well how about the human creature. How about before you (EPA) go ahead and destroy more lives, livelihoods, and ruin another American family past time you actually require a study and then rank the negative effects against all other environmental concerns. If they did this...we could prioritize our nations and the worlds concerns. But they never do. What they allways forget is our industry ( the ordoor sporting industry ) cares more about preserving the environment and spends millions of dollars preserving it. We understand that if they fish and game animals die from the use of these products we no longer have an industry or have the American past times that have been past down for generations. The EPA doesn't understand that. They will except just about any wacked out actavist group (who hasn't spent any money on preserving the envornment ) make these outlandish claims without any study and then they make policy. How about they tell them to do a study or get a real job. Hell ...this administrations would probably give them a grant to do the study but that would still be to much work. It's easier to just ruin an industry and American past time in the name of saving the planet.

The EPA must subscribe to the same book that that nut job that was shot trying take over the Discovery channel.

I went lead free many years ago (tin) because I had small children and it just didn't seem right to have them using lead when I was fishing. Lead is a toxic substance. It gets into kids bones because the body mistakes it for calcium. Even very, very small quantities have been shown to have an effect on child development.

It's just not a big deal to go lead free. Personally, I think it's about time we banned lead sinkers.

I think Cabellas should state how much lead (in pounds) that they sell nation wide. We can assume that most is sold because it is replacing lead already lost into the enviornment. I am sure that a single lead sinker is not of large concern, but the hundreds of pounds that are sold is a different problem. Lead from batteries, paint, industry is all additive. Think about how little lead can destroy the life of a child, and then say where you want to draw the line

The EPA. need to starting looking at real problems and stop wasting time and tax payer money. The minimal effect that this action will have on our enviroment is not worth the time and effort. And most likley will have no noticeable affect. There are far more pressing problems with out enviroment Such as the oil spill in the Gulf with no efficient safty plan in place to correct the spill.

It's about control. Period.

Now where did lead come from originally? The EPA needs to be reminded that lead is a naturally occuring element. If its in a form that can spread like tetraethyl lead in gasoline its one thing but lead in natural form is not right. The lefties are trying their hardest to ban firearms. Loony groups like PETA also want to ban hunting and fishing. This is one back door way. Next is taxation but they don't currently have the power. Remember in November to only vote for representatives who support our right to hunt and fish.

It's about over staffed and over paid patronage bureaucrats justifying their position and control by touting 'we have to do something'. This is why we're in a depression.

Can these clowns at the EPA really be serious? I don't think it takes a whole lot of effort to look around at our country and the world to see that there might be a few things higher on priority list to attack than some jig heads... While the vast majority of the companies in the marine industry are trying to figure out how to make a profit (which includes down sizing work force), these government agencies have taken our tax dollars to not improve but to keep their employees who have nothing to do. So now, they have time to target fishing sinkers... Boy, the "Change" keeps coming!

Why is everybody getting hot under thecollar about a lead ban in fishing, and maybe shooting. We've had a similar ban here for years. As for the efficiency of other metals being inferior tunston is widely used and fishing tackle is cheaper now than its ever been. New environmental measures are a fact of life, like the rising price of fuel. The rest of the world has accepted them so come on America accept the twnety first century!

Why assume that all comments submitted are to oppose??

Recall the call to ban lead in many water fowl hunt applications.Proven needed for the health of the resource,now accepted although the sky was really falling there at first.

I use lead free 30/06 ammo.I know of some hunt lands where the owners require non lead.

We as an industry should be oriented to the emerging science rather than knee jerk oppose.Shame on Cabelas.I spend a lot of money there.

This action is not about the health of the fish, eater or the birds its just a place for those who want o stand on their soap box and have 5 minutes in the spot lite.

As well as a way to control those who enjoy the sport bu imposing reckless restriction. why do those same people not push to force ALL boats on the water to be registered and ALL operator to have had a boating safety class!!

so what do I see well control in fribulas area against people they don't like!!!

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