Press Release: Tribe and Derby Partner to Reduce Lead Use
9/4/08
The Natural Resources Department of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is pleased to be partnering with the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby in the Lead-Free Vineyard Fishing Project to educate anglers on the health and environmental dangers of lead in fishing.
“The Tribe has been fishing in these waters for 10,000 years and hope to continue doing so for generations to come, so it’s important to us to do our part to protect the marine environment.” said Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, Tribal Chairwoman. All 3,000 anglers who sign up for the Derby will receive educational materials and samples of non-lead fishing weights, courtesy of the Tribe. The project was funded by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Healthy Communities Program.
Ed Jerome, Derby President, said, “It is our pleasure to provide this forum for the Tribe to help spread the word about the dangers of lead in our bodies and our environment. In recent years the Derby has become aware of the increasing ingesting of lead weights by local fish, and we’re happy to be working towards a lead-free environment.”
The Tribe will also be working over the winter with local tackle shops and charter captains to explore alternatives to toxic lead weights. Lead, even in small amounts, negatively affects both human health and the environment. Children are particularly sensitive to lead exposure, with developmental problems and even lowered IQ as a consequence. In adults, exposure to lead can lead to kidney, heart, and nervous system problems. Fishermen who mold their own lead weights at home put themselves and their families especially at risk. In addition to the health hazards, wildlife, particularly waterfowl such as loons, is often poisoned by lead left behind by anglers and hunters.
“The Tribe’s responsibility to protect our environment doesn’t end at Tribal boundaries,” said Bret Stearns, Director of the Natural Resources Department. “This project is a great opportunity to reach an avid group of people who care about the marine environment.”
Informational packet with samples of lead-free sinkers will be available wherever Derby pins are sold, including at the weigh-in station. For more information on the program, please call Jim Miller, Environmental Program Coordinator, at the Wampanoag Tribe at 508-645-9265, ext. 134.
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Jim Miller *508-645-9265, ext. 134 *
A FEDERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED TRIBE