An email from Harry Vogel, Loon Preservation Committee Executive Director

On Thursday, April 25, 2013, twenty members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives will make a crucial decision for our state’s loons. The House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee will meet to consider Senate Bill 89 (SB 89), which would ban the sale and freshwater use of lead sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less. This tackle is the largest known cause of New Hampshire adult loon mortality. The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC), NH Lakes Association (NH LAKES), and NH Audubon are working together in support of SB 89 to increase critical protections for New Hampshire’s loons.

Thank you to everyone who has supported our efforts so far. It is National Volunteer Week, and we greatly appreciate all that our volunteers do–that’s why we want to make sure your efforts are not wasted. Did you know that just thirty-eight pieces of lead fishing tackle entirely erased six full seasons of volunteers’ work building and floating loon nesting rafts? Today’s Union Leader editorial pointed out this sad inequity and endorsed SB 89. See the editorial here.

We cannot succeed without your continued involvement.

Please show your support for SB 89 in the following two ways:

1. Join us on April 25, 2013, at the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee hearing on SB 89. We need to fill the hearing room to make sure our support for SB 89 is visible to committee members. As you may recall, similar legislation was defeated in the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee last year by well-organized bass angling clubs who traveled to Concord to make sure they could keep using their toxic lead jigs.
2. If you haven’t already done so, contact the members of the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee today and ask them to support SB 89. You may send an email to each of the Committee members or find their phone numbers to make calls by clicking here.

Even if you plan to attend the hearing, please contact the members of the Committee beforehand. The allotted time for the hearing on the bill is limited; your phone calls and written comments will ensure that your voice is heard by committee members even if you don’t speak at the hearing.

HEARING TIME: April 25, 2013, 12:30 p.m. Please try to arrive by 11:30 a.m. (or as early as possible) to get a seat and sign your name in support of the bill. You don’t need to speak unless you want to.

HEARING LOCATION: Room 307, Legislative Office Building, 33 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301. Click here for parking details and directions.

Please help us pass SB 89 and its critical protections for our state’s loons! We had a tremendous showing of support from our members and volunteers at the hearing last year, but we need to do even better this year. If you have any questions, or would like to let us know you’ll be joining us on Thursday, April 25, please contact LPC’s legislative coordinator, Sheridan Brown, at 603-230-2473 or email Sheridan at advocate [at] stbrownlaw.com.

Together, we can protect our loons from toxic lead fishing tackle. Thank you for your outstanding past and continued support!

Sincerely,

Harry Vogel
Loon Preservation Committee Executive Director