Daily news for
marine industry professionals
marine industry professionals
NMMA urges members to oppose lead-tackle ban
Posted on 08 September 2010
The National Marine Manufacturers Association is urging its members to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject a request to ban all lead in fishing tackle.
Last month, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the EPA to enact a ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The ban would include sinkers, jigs, weighted fly line and components that contain lead, such as brass and ballast in a variety of lures, including spinners and stick baits.
"The petition was presented with the aim of reducing bird deaths caused by the ingestion of lead sinkers and jigheads. However, a study conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that less than 1 percent of all waterfowl and other birds, such as eagles, are killed by lead sinker ingestion," the NMMA said.
Click here to send in a public comment.
The deadline for comments is Sept. 15.
-
Office Manager
-
Systems Engineering Specialist
-
World Class Boat Builder looking for a CFO
-
Customer Service and Technical Support Position
-
Director of Sales & Brokers
-
Marine Mechanic
-
Development and Operations Manager
-
Clean Marine Systems - Manufacturer’s Sales Representative - South East
-
District Sales Manager
-
Outside sales representative - Connecticut
-
Sales Account Manager/Marine Aftermarket Sales (Texas)
-
Sales Account Manager/Marine Aftermarket Sales (Annapolis Maryland or Long Island Sound area)
-
Group Leader - Tooling
-
Seeking Experienced Sales Specialists
-
Seeking an Experienced Lamination Manager
-
Maryland’s Leading Boat and Yacht Dealer is Seeking a Sales Professional
-
UPDATED Yacht Sales Position in New England - Looking to the Future
-
Yacht Sales Positions in CT, ME, MA.
-
Outside Sales Representative-South East
-
Marina Manager
-
Experienced Sales Executives
-
Marketing and Account Specialist
-
Charter-Broker Manager
-
Service Manager
-
Service Tech
-
Sales Superstar Needed
-
Seeking An Experienced Mercruiser Marine Technician
-
Outside Sales for the South Florida Area
-
Boat Sales Position Available
-
Seeking General Manager
-
Marine Marketing Manager
-
Marine Business Development Manager
-
Gurit USA is expanding Engineering Team
It's time that NMMA look forward and encourage manufacturers to evolve & heavily promote those that do.The NMMA is suppose to represent the "leaders" of our industry yet I don't get a sense of inspiration for future generations to follow; the paradigm has shifted & it's time to think differently. Stop whining and start motivating companies to get creative. Finding solutions that will help bottom line but at the same time helping to preserve the environment & having fun is not impossible. We need loans to get companies going, but opposing the lead-tackle ban? Save your breathe and reserve it for another battle.
We need to reward innovation that will get more ppl to come to the shows; The shows have to be relevant to ppl's lives! Right now, ppl feel bad/guilty for depleting our resources & only sailing is eco-sound but having a 'green' product onboard, even if you're a powerboat, is something to brag about. Pls start being in touch w/ younger generations because although many of you protest, a kicking tantrum is not going to get you very far. Encourage innovation, promote & inspire your manufacturers, like other business leaders outside of this industry. Money will come, but you need to be engaged w/ the boaters & potential boaters; stay in touch w/ your audience.
What a bunch of wishy washy namby pambys, just give in to any thing big bama wants and before long there will be no more boating,
FIGHT BACK NOW
Agree with both of these sensible comments. The marine industry should get out ahead on this issue. The future is green.
The NMMA has, once again, come down on the wrong side of an issue.
Rather than opposing the ban, NMMA should have been leading the way on finding safe and economical substitutes for lead.
Is it possible that NMMA leadership has consumed too much lead and is now brain-damaged?
I consider myself to be green (and I have been in the recreational boating industry for 10 years). But I'm not so swift to condemn the NMMA and agree with the ban on lead in fishing tackle.
The problem is actions like these ultimately do very little to improve water quality or preserve marine and avian life. They are more smoke and mirrors to make us feel good.
No one wants to handle the real problem: non-point source pollution. We all want to put chemicals on our lawns; we all want to live on the waterfront; we are against paying higher taxes for the construction of state-of-the-art water treatment facilities and closing down combined sewerage outfalls; We all want brake pads that work, but contain copper; we all want our chicken, pork and milk to be affordable (farm run off); we all want to dump our cigarette butts on the ground (I quit smoking but this practice is prevalent); and the list goes on.
The problem is us and our avoidance of having the pay for the things that would really do the most ecologically - not lead fishing tackle.
Think about it. When do we start working on the things on shore?
Why does it seem like the NMMA is always coming out on so many issues that serve only short term benifits, if any?
Lead is a poison. The same arguments were heard years ago about lead shot in shotguns. Yet the sky didn't fall. Hunting wasn't affected. In fact gun dealers sold more ammunition as hunters changed over. Bird mortality dropped and hunting in some areas is better than ever.
Maybe it is time to get the lead out of the water. I am quite sure that birds are not the only one affected as the lead slowly breaks down, poisioning our waters, the fish and other animals, including us. 1% mortality of any species is 1% too much! Does the NMMA actually think a 1% mortality is OK?
Lets look for alternative materials and help clean up the environment. It is about time the NMMA gets their heads out of the sand and realizes green policies are good for the marine industry. They keep all of us boating instead of having large water ways cut off from recreational boating.
In case they are wondering I make my living and have for 35 years in the marine industry. So I'm no outsider here to stir up problems. Once again the NMMA is on the wrong side of the field.