Lead fishing ban lifted on US federal waters

Legislation has been approved in the US to overturn a ban on the use of lead fishing tackle on federal waters.

The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act passed the US House of Representatives this week. The legislation prohibits the Secretary of State of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture from banning the use of lead tackle and ammunition in federal lands and waters unless such regulation is consistent with state law and supported by science.

The move has been backed by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and follows the prohibition of lead issued by the Biden administration in three million acres of federal land in October last year.

The concern over the potential ban of lead in tackle and ammunition is due to the fact that the substance is easier and cheaper to make and more readily available to sportsmen. Banning its use would make fishing less accessible by increasing the financial barriers for sportsmen and women.

“As a lifelong hunter and recreational fisherman, I was appalled by the Biden administration’s effort to restrict access for our nation’s sportsmen and women who use traditional lead fishing tackle and ammunition on federal lands and waters, “said Congressman Rob Wittman (main picture).

“Effective environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation rely on the valuable contributions of our hunters and anglers, and affordable lead ammunition and tackle are crucial to reducing financial barriers that limit accessibility for sportsmen and women. I’m pleased to see this critical piece of legislation pass the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this bill and send it to the President’s desk.”

Congressman Wittman re-introduced the bill in January last year and has garnered 50 cosponsors since then. In June, the bill passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support.