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Fishermen

If you participate in recreational fishing, you are far from alone – nearly 49 million Americans recreationally fish, making it the second most popular sport in the United States. But the presence of coal-fired power plants in threatening this popular sport, due to their mercury emissions.

The combustion of coal releases mercury into the atmosphere. Power plants are the only major emitters of mercury that are not regulated under federal clean air standards – and the Bush Administration is moving away from rather than towards regulation. Because of a lack of regulation, power plants emit 41% of all manmade emissions in the United States. In 1999, coal-fired power plants emitted 48 tons of mercury, and the number of coal plants has only increased since then.

Higher mercury concentrations in our air translate to higher mercury concentrations in our fish. Since mercury is a toxic metal, fishermen in large swaths of the country can no longer safely consumer their catch.

Mercury also affects other waterfowl, and pollution from coal-fired power plants is threatening the hunting of certain ducks as well. The advisory below was recently issued in Utah due to the heightened levels of mercury pollution, much from the combustion of coal.

And mercury is only increasing in prevalence across the country. According to data from the EPA, as of 2003, 44 states had active mercury consumption advisories for waterways, a 63% increase since 1993. More specifically, there are active mercury advisories for 13.1 million acres of lakes, or 32% of all lake acres in the country. Advisories also cover 22% of all river miles.

The construction and operation of new coal plants would increase the threat to recreational fishing that is both an American past-time and important to state and national economies. Recreation fishermen are already reducing the number of days they fish and the number of fishing trips they take due to fish consumption advisories.

Take action to protect our waterways and lakes against mercury and preserve recreational fishing. We do not need new coal plants in the West. It is possible and profitable to address growing energy needs in the West through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures.

Find out Solutions to coal-fired power plants Learn how to Get Involved! in stopping the development of coal across the West