Contacts
Nicholas Throckmorton 202-208-5636
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday approved three
new non-toxic shot types--tungsten-bronze-iron, a new formulation of tungsten-iron,
and tungsten-tin-bismuth--for use in waterfowl hunting.
The approval published in the Federal Register today. Today’s
action brings to 10 the number of non-toxic shot types available to waterfowl
hunters.
“ Protecting our waterfowl populations while ensuring
waterfowl hunting opportunities are two things we take very seriously,” said
Service Director Steve Williams. “With each new shot type approved,
hunters will have a wider range of choices as they continue to play a key
role in the conservation of waterfowl and its habitat."
International Nontoxic Composites Corporation’s application
of tungsten-bronze-iron shot, ENVIRON-Metal Inc.’s application of tungsten-iron
shot and Victor Oltrogge’s application for tungsten-tin-bismuth shot
have all been approved after being subjects to a rigorous testing protocol.
Previously, hunters were allowed to use steel shot, bismuth-tin,
tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten- matrix, tungsten-nickel-iron and
tungsten-iron-nickel-tin. For more information on toxic and nontoxic shot,
go to <http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/issues/nontoxic_shot/nontoxic.htm>.
Efforts to phase out lead shot began in the 1970s and a nationwide
ban on lead shot for all waterfowl hunting was implemented in 1991. Canada
instituted a complete ban in 1999. Waterfowl can ingest expended lead shot
and many then die from lead poisoning. In addition, predators that consume
waterfowl may ingest the shot.
A study in the mid-1990s found that the nationwide ban in the
United States on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting has had remarkable
success. Six years after the ban, researchers estimated a 64 percent reduction
in lead poisoning deaths of surveyed mallard ducks and a 78 percent decline
on ingestion of lead pellets.
The rule published in the Federal Register is available at: <http://migratorybirds.fws.gov>.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal
agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife
and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands,
and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment
to state fish and wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
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